STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1313

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1782

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1782, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Office of the State Coordinator of Health Information Technology.

 

     The office would:

 

(1)  Leverage federal stimulus funds to improve health care delivery systems;

 

(2)  Assist applicants with grant proposals to the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology and for medical information and health care information technology training;

 

(3)  Develop a plan for integrated electronic health information infrastructure between public and private stakeholders in the State;

 

(4)  Work with certain state agencies and health care providers to ensure compliance with patient privacy laws; and

 

     (5)  Assist patients in using health information technology.

 

     In addition, this measure establishes the Health Information Exchange Task Force to advise the State Coordinator of Health Information Technology in developing a five-year strategic plan for the office to accelerate the planning of the State's health information exchange system.  The measure also appropriates an unspecified amount for the office.

 

Your Committee received two written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that the exchange of health information technology is a cost-efficient tool that increases the effective delivery of health care.  Your Committee finds that because both public and private entities are the custodians of health care information, an effective health information exchange will require partnerships between public and private stakeholders in the health care industry.  Your Committee believes that the availability of federal stimulus funds for developing health information technology will be a key component in the development of an improved health information exchange system.

 

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Removing the appropriation; and

 

(2)  Making a technical amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1782, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1782, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair