Texas House Bill HB2939

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the interoperability of and standards for information systems of the Health and Human Services Commission and health and human services agencies for sending and receiving protected health information.

Impact

The bill mandates that from a specified date, any new information systems initiated by the Health and Human Services are required to adhere to established data exchange standards. This includes systems developed without existing national standards, where an emphasis is placed on interoperability with national standards for electronic health records. This shift is expected to establish a more uniform data communication framework across health services in Texas, promoting better coordination and efficiency in health care delivery.

Summary

House Bill 2939 addresses the interoperability and standards for information systems utilized by the Health and Human Services Commission and related agencies. The primary aim of the bill is to enhance the capabilities for sending and receiving protected health information between health care providers. This improvement is crucial in ensuring that health information systems can effectively communicate with each other in accordance to applicable data exchange standards as engineered by recognized organizations.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HB 2939 may involve the funding and resources needed to achieve the interoperability goals set forth in the bill. Efforts to upgrade existing systems or implement new ones could lead to concerns about budget allocations within the Health and Human Services sector. Additionally, there could be debates regarding the adaptability of existing systems to meet the newly proposed standards and what impact this may have on service delivery during the transition period.