HLS 11RS-3298 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 108
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEBAS
HEALTH CARE: Creates the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic Prescribing to study
and make recommendations concerning electronic prescribing
A RESOLUTION1
To create the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic Prescribing to study and make2
recommendations concerning electronic prescribing.3
WHEREAS, Louisiana is working to adopt electronic medical records systems; and4
WHEREAS, a survey of physicians recently conducted by the American Medical5
Association found significant concerns among physicians about health insurer prior6
authorization requirements for both procedures and prescription medications, as well as the7
timely adjudication of such matters; and 8
WHEREAS, prior authorization programs have the potential to delay or limit access9
to needed treatments; and 10
WHEREAS, emerging electronic medical record systems may increasingly offer11
physicians the convenience of knowing whether a medication is covered by a health plan,12
and whether there are utilization management limitations associated with a medication, but13
health plans continue to require the submission of a prior authorization request via a paper14
system; and 15
WHEREAS, physicians often do not know the criteria for approval by a health plan16
of a requested treatment; and17
WHEREAS, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health18
(HITECH) Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 200919
(ARRA), provides federal incentives for Medicare and Medicaid providers and hospitals to20 HLS 11RS-3298 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 108
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implement, adopt and upgrade health information technology, including electronic1
prescribing and electronic health record systems; and 2
WHEREAS, states are responsible for administering the incentive payments, and3
have already begun embarking on their own health IT initiatives; and 4
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services recently5
released guidance encouraging states to pursue the implementation of health information6
technology as a key to driving down health care costs; and7
WHEREAS, the goals of electronic prescribing and health information technology8
systems are to strengthen the physician patient relationship, improve patient care by allowing9
physicians to coordinate care across specialties and fields, facilitate improved quality10
management of chronic disease and thereby reduce health system costs, and allow physicians11
to monitor medication adherence. 12
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the13
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish and create the Legislative Workgroup on14
Electronic Prescribing to study and make recommendations to the legislature concerning15
electronic prescribing which at a minimum would accomplish the following:16
(1) Seek to limit marketing in electronic health record systems.17
(2) Seek to encourage the provision of evidence-based information at the point of18
care for the prescriber and patient.19
(3) Standardize prior authorization to maximize administrative simplification and20
efficiency and adopt a universal prior authorization form to be made available for electronic21
use.22
(4) Provide for a patient's freedom of choice with respect to the selection of a23
pharmacy.24
(5) Provide for user authentication, audit, and physical security.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic26
Prescribing is hereby established and shall be composed of the following members:27
(1) One representative appointed by the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy who will28
serve as co-chair.29 HLS 11RS-3298 ORIGINAL
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(2) One representative of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners who will1
serve as co-chair.2
(3) One representative of the Department of Health and Hospitals.3
(4) One representative of the Department of Insurance.4
(5) One representative appointed by the Louisiana State Medical Society.5
(6) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians.6
(7) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies7
Association.8
(8) One representative appointed by the Pharmaceutical Researchers and9
Manufacturers of America.10
(9) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Association of Health Plans.11
(10) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum.12
(11) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Hospital Association.13
(12) One representative of the Louisiana Worker's Compensation Corporation.14
(13) One representative of the Louisiana Association of Self Insured Employers.15
(14) One representative of eQHealth Solutions.16
(15) One representative of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.17
(16) One representative of the Louisiana Orthopedic Association.18
(17) One representative of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.19
(18) One representative of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.20
(19) One representative of Medicine Louisiana, Inc.21
(20) One representative of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of22
Pediatrics.23
(21) One representative of the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workgroup shall study and provide25
recommendations on the following aspects of electronic prescribing systems: 26
(1) Best practices to maintain a neutral platform for the secure electronic27
transmission of health data, including but not limited to medication history, formulary status,28
and other patient information which health professionals typically access when prescribing29
medication and other interventions. 30 HLS 11RS-3298 ORIGINAL
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(2) Best practices to assure attempts to influence, through economic incentives or1
otherwise, the prescribing decisions of the practitioner at the point of care can be kept to a2
minimum and focused on patient safety and outcomes that maximize patient and provider3
freedom of choice. 4
(3) Best practices to assure messages in electronic prescribing systems are5
substantially supported by scientific evidence, accurate, up to date, and fact based, including6
a fair and balanced presentation of risks and benefits, and support for better clinical decision7
making, such as alerts to adverse events and access to formulary information. 8
(4) Best practices to establish a process to provide electronic prior authorization9
request and approval transactions between providers and group purchasers. 10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and the11
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners shall coordinate, facilitate and support the12
functions and duties of the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic Prescribing.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic14
Prescribing shall submit a report to House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Louisiana15
Board of Pharmacy, and the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners on or before16
January 1, 2012.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the18
Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the19
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the20
Louisiana State Medical Society, the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, the21
Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association, Pharmaceutical Researchers and22
Manufacturers of America, the Louisiana Association of Health Plans, the Louisiana23
Healthcare Quality Forum, the Louisiana Hospital Association, the Louisiana Worker's24
Compensation Corporation, Louisiana Association of Self Insured Employers, eQHealth25
Solutions, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Louisiana Orthopedic26
Association, Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the Louisiana Association of Nurse27
Practitioners, Medicine Louisiana, Inc., the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy28
of Pediatrics, and the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners.29 HLS 11RS-3298 ORIGINAL
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
LeBas HR No. 108
Creates the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic Prescribing to study and make
recommendations to the legislature concerning electronic prescribing. Requires report on
or before January 1, 2012.