Texas Senate Bill SB1768

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to a pilot project to exchange secure electronic health information between the Health and Human Services Commission and local or regional health information exchanges.

Impact

The implementation of SB1768 could significantly impact state laws related to health information privacy and data sharing. The bill emphasizes compliance with both state privacy regulations and federal laws such as HIPAA, ensuring that the exchanged health information upholds protection standards. By fostering coordination among healthcare providers, the bill aims to improve the overall quality of care for patients, especially those receiving state and federally administered services. It is anticipated to streamline patient information retrieval across different healthcare settings, which may reduce operational costs and increase the efficiency of health services.

Summary

SB1768 proposes the establishment of a pilot project aimed at facilitating the secure exchange of electronic health information between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and local or regional health information exchanges. The bill mandates the commission to select at least two participating exchanges in an urban area to assess the feasibility, costs, and benefits associated with this electronic health data sharing. This project is particularly focused on enhancing access to medication histories and other critical health data to improve healthcare delivery.

Contention

Potential points of contention arise from privacy concerns associated with increased electronic health data exchange. Critics may express apprehension about the security implications of shared electronic health information, fearing that patients' sensitive health data could be compromised. Furthermore, the bill's success hinges on the effective collaboration among various stakeholders, including local health information exchanges, healthcare providers, and government entities. If executed poorly, there may be discrepancies in quality of care or issues related to patient consent and information accuracy.