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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 81
BY SENATOR MILLS
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 SR NO. 81
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(HITECH) Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 20091
(ARRA), provides federal incentives for Medicare and Medicaid providers and hospitals to2
implement, adopt and upgrade health information technology, including electronic3
prescribing and electronic health record systems; and 4
WHEREAS, states are responsible for administering the incentive payments, and5
have already begun embarking on their own health IT initiatives; and 6
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services recently7
released guidance encouraging states to pursue the implementation of health information8
technology as a key to driving down health care costs; and9
WHEREAS, the goals of electronic prescribing and health information technology10
systems are to strengthen the physician patient relationship, improve patient care by allowing11
physicians to coordinate care across all specialties/fields, facilitate improved quality12
management of chronic disease thereby reducing health system costs, and allow physicians13
to monitor medication adherence. 14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana15
does hereby establish and create the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic Prescribing to16
study and make recommendations to the legislature concerning electronic prescribing which17
at a minimum would accomplish the following:18
(1) Seek to limit marketing in electronic health record systems.19
(2) Seek to encourage the provision of evidence based information at the point of20
care for the prescriber and patient.21
(3) Standardize prior authorization to maximize administrative simplification and22
efficiency and adopt a universal prior authorization form to be made available for electronic23
use.24
(4) Provide for a patient's freedom of choice with respect to the selection of a25
pharmacy.26
(5) Provide for user authentication, audit, and physical security.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic28
Prescribing is hereby established and shall be composed of the following members29
(1) One representative appointed by the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy who will30 SR NO. 81
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serve as co-chair.1
(2) One representative of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners who will2
serve as co-chair.3
(3) One representative of the Department of Health and Hospitals.4
(4) One representative of the Department of Insurance.5
(5) One representative appointed by the Louisiana State Medical Society.6
(6) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians.7
(7) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies8
Association.9
(8) One representative appointed by the Pharmaceutical Researchers and10
Manufacturers of America.11
(9) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Association of Health Plans.12
(10) One representative appointed by the Louisiana Healthcare Quality Forum.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workgroup shall study and provide14
recommendations on the following aspects of electronic prescribing systems: 15
(1) Best practices to maintain a neutral platform for the secure electronic16
transmission of health data including, but not limited to medication history, formulary status,17
and other patient information health professionals typically access when prescribing18
medication and other interventions. 19
(2) Best practices to assure attempts to influence, through economic incentives or20
otherwise, the prescribing decisions of the practitioner at the point of care can be kept to a21
minimum and focused on patient safety and outcomes that maximize patient and provider22
freedom of choice. 23
(3) Best practices to assure messages in electronic prescribing systems are24
substantially supported by scientific evidence, accurate, up to date, and fact based, including25
a fair and balanced presentation of risks and benefits, and support for better clinical decision26
making, such as alerts to adverse events and access to formulary information. 27
(4) Best practices to establish a process to provide electronic prior authorization28
request and approval transactions between providers and group purchasers. 29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and the30 SR NO. 81
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Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners shall coordinate, facilitate and support the1
functions and duties of the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic Prescribing.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Workgroup on Electronic3
Prescribing shall submit a report to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, the Louisiana4
Board of Pharmacy, and the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners on or before5
January 1, 2012. 6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the7
Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the8
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the9
Louisiana State Medical Society, the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, the10
Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association, Pharmaceutical Researchers and11
Manufacturers of America, the Louisiana Association of Health Plans, and the Louisiana12
Healthcare Quality Forum.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Greg Waddell.
DIGEST
Mills SR No. 81
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.