Texas House Bill HB1218

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/27/09
• Voted on by House: 5/12/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/20/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/26/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 6/1/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to programs to exchange certain health information between the Health and Human Services Commission and certain health care entities and facilities.

Impact

The proposed bill emphasizes compliance with state and federal regulations concerning health information transmission, particularly the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The pilot program will primarily focus on sharing patients' medication histories initially, with the potential for including additional health data later. This initiative could significantly enhance the accessibility of health records across different healthcare settings, which can ultimately improve patient care quality in Texas. The findings from the pilot will be reported back to relevant legislative committees for further consideration.

Summary

House Bill 1218 establishes a pilot project aimed at facilitating the secure electronic exchange of health information between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and local or regional health information exchanges. This project will target at least one urban area in Texas and is designed to assess the feasibility, costs, and benefits of such exchanges. Participation in the pilot will require at least two health information exchanges capable of securely managing health data among various healthcare providers not under a single ownership or operational unit.

Contention

While the bill seems to aim for improving healthcare efficiency and data management, there may be concerns surrounding data privacy and security implications inherent in such exchanges. Stakeholders may debate the potential risks connected with patient information being transmitted electronically, including who has access to this data and how it is protected. The success of the pilot project will depend on achieving a balance between enhancing healthcare connectivity and safeguarding sensitive patient information.