BILL ANALYSIS
By: Nelson
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
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.
C.S.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
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill requires the statewide health coordinating council to form an advisory committee on health care information technology, and specifies the groups from which representation is to be drawn.
The bill 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 in pursuit of greater cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes.
The bill requires the advisory committee to elect a presiding officer, and provides that members of the advisory committee serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses as provided by applicable provisions of the Government Code and the General Appropriations Act.
The bill provides that Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee, and provides that meetings of the advisory committee are subject to the open meetings law.
The bill provides that the use of information technology must be addressed as part of the state health plan.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute adds a provision requiring the advisory committee to include at least one member with at least 10 years of experience in the health care information technology industry.