Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health IT topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah House adopts substitute to set standards for electronic clinical health information exchange
Summary
The House approved a first-substitute to House Bill 47 on Jan. 30, authorizing state standards and rulemaking for the electronic exchange of clinical health information and assigning oversight to the Department of Health (in coordination with the Insurance Department). The substitute passed 67-0.
The Utah House on Jan. 30 approved a first-substitute to House Bill 47 to create standards for the electronic exchange of clinical health information and authorize rulemaking to implement them.
Representative Menlove, the bill sponsor, described the measure as "one more step in bringing our health care system into the digital age," saying the bill authorizes the Department of Health to oversee development of standards and grants rulemaking authority while coordinating with the Insurance Department. He said the state already has an effective process for exchanging insurance information and that these clinical standards would be a nationally recognized step forward.
Members expressed broad support and several asked technical questions about scope and the bill's process. Representative Dougal and others said the standards could lower costs and improve quality through a uniform exchange method. The sponsor indicated the substitute language represented consensus and moved to delete the title and body and insert the substitute; members adopted the substitution and then passed the first-substitute bill by a recorded voice vote (first substitute passed 67-0).
The House referred the bill to the Senate for further consideration.
Implementation details and rulemaking timelines were not specified on the floor; the bill authorizes the Department of Health to lead standard-setting and coordination with the Insurance Department.
