Dear HITCh members,
January 1, 2008
This e-news update includes the following:
New LegisBrief on E-prescribing
A new NCSL LegisBrief provides a concise and informative introduction to e-prescribing. E-prescribing is seen by many as low hanging fruit in health IT and has been identified as a top health IT issue for the coming year. This two page brief will provide you with an excellent introduction to this important topic.
E-prescribing LegisBrief (NCSL login required) http://www.ncsl.org/programs/pubs/summaries/08LBJan_eprescribe-sum.htm
IhealthBeat Story “E-Prescribing To Be Top Health Care IT Issue in 2008, Experts Say”
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2008/1/14/EPrescribing-To-Be-Top-Health-Care-IT-Issue-in-2008-Experts-Say.aspx?topicID=53
HITCh at HIMSS Meeting:
The first HITCh meeting of the year will take place at the 2008 HIMSS Annual Conference:
February 26th
10:00 am-12:30 pm
310 A/B Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
The session will include a business meeting followed by a session focused on Florida’s health information technology initiatives. Those unable to attend the meeting in person will be able to join the group for the informational session on a webinar. More details on the session and how to sign up for the webinar will be sent out to the email list soon.
The HITCh meeting will not be listed in the HIMSS Annual Conference public program so please be sure to note the room number 310 A/B.
Another State focused program:
State Officials Legislative Forum
Monday February 25
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
State officials, including a former Governor and current departmental executives and legislators, will share their insights on various state healthcare IT legislative activities that will impact your function in the near future. State Officials will discuss the challenges that face state healthcare IT legislation, as well as the relationship of a state’s executive branch in the legislative process. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage in questions and discussion with the state officials and ask those key questions on how to influence the transformation of healthcare using information technology at the state level
California Data Breach Notification Law Now Covers Health Data
Last session California extended the reach of its data breach law to include personally identifiable unencrypted medical and health insurance information. Now when a state agency, or any business that operates in California, loses an individual’s health information, they must inform any potentially impacted state residents.
In addition, the bill prohibits any organization that holds electronic personal health record data from disclosing that information without patient consent. Previously many of these organization didn’t fall under California’s health data privacy laws.
Assembly Bill 1298
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1251-1300/ab_1298_bill_20071014_chaptered.pdf
San Francisco Chronicle Article on the law
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/04/BUR6U9000.DTL&hw=California+Data+Breach+law&sn=001&sc=1000
The State of Health Information Technology in California
The California Health Care Foundation recently released a snapshot of health information technology in California. The chart book provides some interesting findings:
The cost of EHRs was cited as the largest barrier to adoption by physicians.
Physicians in larger medical practices are more likely to use EHRs.
Only 3% of community clinics are using EHRs
Snapshot: The State of Health Information Technology in California, 2008
http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemID=133552
Upcoming State Alliance for e-Health Meetings
State Alliance for e-Health
February 22
Location TBD in Washington, DC
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