BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 45

79R495 MSE-D                                                                                                                By: Nelson

                                                                                                                  Health & Human Services

                                                                                                                                            3/28/2005

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

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

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a) Requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to appoint an advisory committee on health care information technology, by January 1, 2006.  Requires the committee to include representation from certain groups.

 

(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.

 

(c) 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.

 

(d) Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the advisory committee.

 

SECTION 2.  RECOMMENDATIONS.  Requires the advisory committee to deliver its recommendations to the legislature and the executive commissioner not later than September 1, 2006.

 

SECTION 3.  EXPIRATION.  Provides that this Act expires and the advisory committee is abolished on September 1, 2006.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.