BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 45
By: Nelson
Health & Human Services
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Over the past decade there has been an increasing emphasis on health care information technology (IT) at the federal level, especially electronic medical records. A federal office of health care IT, headed by a national director of health care IT, was created earlier this year and President Bush has called for every American to have an electronic medical record within a decade.
S.B. 45 creates a health care IT advisory committee to develop a long-range plan for the adoption and promulgation of health care IT throughout the public and private health care system, including electronic medical records and other IT solutions to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. It is anticipated that the committee will identify the use of electronic medical records, computerized physician order entry, decision-support systems, and regional data-sharing interchanges for health care information. It is anticipated that the long-term plan will include recommendations for promoting the adoption of these best practices throughout the state including legislative action, if necessary.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 104.0156, as follows:
Sec. 104.0156. HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Requires the statewide health coordinating council to form an advisory committee on health care information technology. Requires the committee to include representation from certain groups. Requires the committee to include at least one member with at least 10 years of experience in the health care information technology industry.
(b) Requires the advisory committee to develop a long-range plan for health care information technology and sets forth certain types of technology to be included in the plan. Requires the committee, in developing the long-range plan, to study the effect of health care information technology on price disparities in insurance coverage for residents of this state.
(c) Requires the advisory committee to elect a presiding officer.
(d) Provides that members of the advisory committee serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660 (Travel Expenses), Government Code, and the General Appropriations Act.
(e) Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the size, compensation, or duration of the advisory committee.
(f) Provides that meetings of the advisory committee under this section are subject to Chapter 551 (Open Meetings), Government Code.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 104.022(e) and (f), Health and Safety Code, to include information technology among the issues that must be addressed by the state health plan.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.