Legislative/eHealth Committee Update

Co-Chairpersons: Stephen Young and Andrea Thomas-Lloyd

The legislative/e-health committee has posted the new 2010 Release of Information charges to the CoP. They are also available on the PA code.

With the new federal grants and acts in place, Meaningful Use has become an imperative term. CMS and ONC issued proposed regulations for Meaningful Use. These regulations will govern the electronic medical record incentive program. Participants will have to prove they are meaningful users of the health technology in order to receive the incentive. The goal is to accelerate and facilitate the incentive program. Additional information on Meaningful Use can be found at this website.

At the last Pa eHI meeting, PHIX [Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange] made a presentation on their scope of interoperability in Pennsylvania. PHIX release a draft plan for comments to be submitted. The legislative/e-health committee reviewed the PHIX plan and submitted comments. The document that was reviewed is available on the CoP. The proposed plan has sparked many comments and questions from reviewers on an interdisciplinary level. These comments imply a great deal of concern in the plan. A second draft with responses to comments will be released.

 Other Pa eHI news includes:

-          A newly redesigned website is now available at: http://www.paehi.org/.

-         PA eHI Strategic and Operational Plan – the Plans were approved during the 11/18/09 Board meeting and will be available on the website soon. 

-         PA Medical Society – Denise Zimmerman, Executive VP PMS, updated the attendees on PMS’ continued role and support of PA eHI. 

• They continue to advocate improvements in broadband connectivity on behalf of their members.

• She also reported that they are assisting Quality Insights of PA in their application to serve as a Regional Extension Center. 

• PIMSCO (a subsidiary) has already assisted over 300 physician practices in selecting and installing an EHR.

-         HIT Workforce Development & Training – JoAnn Klinedisnt, HIMSS VP of Education and Leigh Twiford, VP of TechQuest made a presentation.  They communicated the role of HIMSS as being the emphasis on Health IT and AHIMA as the role of Health Information Management.  Ms. Klinedisnt recommends the HIMSS Academy Foundation Programs for education and encouraged certification opportunities. HIMSS has applied for a $4.1 million grant from the Department of Labor for workforce development.  TechQuest’s role will be to assist HIMSS regionally in offering training and education. It’s likely they will use the academy programs as a foundation for their education and training. 

-         NaviNet – Dave Edelstein, VP Account Management, presented the role NaviNet is offering in their branded portal through which HIEs, providers, insurers, and others could exchange health information. 

Other legislative updates: 

State Budget - House Bill 1416 (General Appropriations Act 10 of 2009) includes spending amounts for fiscal year 2009-2010. All of the hospital supplemental payments received restorations. While the restorations were improved over various legislative budget proposals, they are still at an amount lower than was spent in fiscal year 2008-2009.

Emergency Medical Services - Senate Bill 240 (Act 37 of 2009), which updates the Emergency Medical Services System Act, requires the Department of Health to plan, guide, and coordinate programs to promote effective and efficient operation of statewide and regional EMS systems. HAP supported the bill because it better reflects current practices.

Health Insurance for the Unemployed - House Bill 1089 (Act 2 of 2009) extends COBRA health benefits to companies with between two and 19 employees. HAP supported the bill.

Health Insurance for Dependent Adults - Senate Bill 189 (Act 4 of 2009) allows some dependent adults to receive health insurance benefits through their parents’ plans until they are age 30. HAP supported the bill.

Preventable Serious Adverse Events - House Bill 84 (Act 1 of 2009) prohibits a health care provider from seeking payment for a preventable serious adverse event. HAP supported the bill.

PHC4 - Senate Bill 89 (Act 3 of 2009) reauthorizes the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) through June 30, 2014. Key provisions of the law include the removal of the single-vendor requirement for reporting of quality data as well as measures providing for greater oversight and accountability of PHC4’s actions. HAP supported the bill.

Pending legislation updates: 

Health Information Technology - Representative Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery) introduced House Bill 2106 , the Health Information Technology Act. The bill establishes the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange to promote the expansion of and use of health information technology. HAP supports the bill.

Health Information Technology Act - The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee approved Senate Bill 700 , sponsored by Senator Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery), which provides a framework for use of the federal stimulus funds directed at health information technology. It also requires the Department of Public Welfare to make payments to health care providers for the purchase or enhancement of health information technology. HAP supports the bill.

Electronic Prescriptions - The House Health and Human Services Committee approved House Bill 825 , sponsored by Representative Matt Baker (R-Tioga). The bill requires adoption of electronic prescriptions in health care facilities and provides incentive payments for adoption of health information technology. While HAP has some concerns with the bill, HAP supports the overall intent of the legislation.