BILL NUMBER: AB 598	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member De La Torre

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Division 110.5 (commencing with Section 130350) to
the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 598, as amended, De La Torre. California Health Information
Network.
   Existing law establishes the Office of Health Information
Integrity within the California Health and Human Services Agency to
ensure the enforcement of state law mandating confidentiality of
medical information and to impose administrative fines for the
unauthorized use of medical information.
   This bill would establish the California Health Information
Network and the California Health Information Standards Advisory
Board within the California Health and Human Services Agency with
prescribed duties related to making recommendations for the adoption
of health information exchange standards and would require the
secretary to report  annually   no later than
July 1, 2010,  to the Governor and the Legislature regarding
progress at meeting the goals of the bill, including, but not limited
to, recommendations relating to necessary statutory changes.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Division 110.5 (commencing with Section 130350) is
added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

      DIVISION 110.5.  THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK


   130350.  (a) There is within the California Health and Human
Services Agency, the California Health Information Network.
   (b) The network shall review and, after public hearings for the
purpose of receiving input from all interested parties, recommend
adoption of health information exchange standards to the Governor and
the Legislature.
   (c) The Secretary of the California Health and Human Services
Agency shall administer the network.
   (d) The goal of the standards developed by the network shall be
the accomplishment of all of the following:
   (1) Establishment and maintenance of an electronic, value-added,
network to link the health care community participants in the state
for the purpose of interchanging important financial and clinical
information.
   (2) Standardization of health care transactions, health care
reporting, electronic interface development, and health care
communications services.
   (3) Gathering and providing data to a statewide data repository.
   (4) Conducting educational programs consistent with the purposes
of this division.
   (5) Providing charitable services that lessen the burdens of
government by providing data to help state agencies fulfill their
responsibilities as legislatively mandated.
   (6) Developing capabilities for standards-based, secure data
exchange in compliance with federal standards.
   (7) Improving the coordination of health care information among
hospitals, laboratories, physicians' offices, pharmacies, and other
health care providers.
   (8) Ensuring appropriate information is available at the time and
place of care.
   (9) Ensuring that consumers' health information is secure and
confidential.
   (10) Providing consumers with access to their health information
from electronic health records and other sources, and providing new
capabilities for consumers to manage and control their personal
health records.
   (11) Supporting the delivery of appropriate evidence-based medical
care and reducing the risks associated with medical errors.
   (12) Lowering health care costs resulting from inefficiencies,
medical errors, and incomplete patient information.
   130351.  (a) There is within the California Health and Human
Services Agency, the California Health Information Standards Advisory
Board composed of representatives from all of the following:
   (1) The Department of Finance.
   (2) The Department of Insurance.
   (3) The Department of Managed Health Care.
   (4) The Office of Health Information Integrity.
   (5) The California Association of Health Plans.
   (6) The California Association of Physician Groups.
   (7) The California Hospital Association.
   (8) The California Medical Association. 
   (9) The California Primary Care Association.  
   (10) The California Pharmacists Association.  
   (11) A labor union organization whose membership has experience
and expertise related to health care information exchange.  

   (12) A business association whose membership provides health care
to its employees. 
   (b) The advisory board shall provide the secretary with
recommendations relating to every component of the secretary's duties
under this division.
   130352.  The secretary shall report  annually 
 no later than July 1, 2010,  to the Governor and the
Legislature on its progress in implementing this division, including,
but not limited to, recommended statutory changes necessary to
accomplish the goals set forth in this division.