135.156  Electronic health information — department duties — advisory council — executive committee.
  1.  a.  The department shall direct a public and private collaborative effort to promote the adoption and use of health information technology in this state in order to improve health care quality, increase patient safety, reduce health care costs, enhance public health, and empower individuals and health care professionals with comprehensive, real-time medical information to provide continuity of care and make the best health care decisions. The department shall provide coordination for the development and implementation of an interoperable electronic health records system, telehealth expansion efforts, the health information technology infrastructure, and other health information technology initiatives in this state. The department shall be guided by the principles and goals specified in section 135.155.
  b.  All health information technology efforts shall endeavor to represent the interests and meet the needs of consumers and the health care sector, protect the privacy of individuals and the confidentiality of individuals’ information, promote physician best practices, and make information easily accessible to the appropriate parties. The system developed shall be consumer-driven, flexible, and expandable.
  2.  a.  An electronic health information advisory council is established which shall consist of the representatives of entities involved in the electronic health records system task force established pursuant to section 217.41A, Code 2007, a pharmacist, a licensed practicing physician, a consumer who is a member of the state board of health, a representative of the state’s Medicare quality improvement organization, the executive director of the Iowa communications network, a representative of the private telecommunications industry, a representative of the Iowa collaborative safety net provider network created in section 135.153, a nurse informaticist from the university of Iowa, and any other members the department or executive committee of the advisory council determines necessary and appoints to assist the department or executive committee at various stages of development of the electronic health information system. Executive branch agencies shall also be included as necessary to assist in the duties of the department and the executive committee. Public members of the advisory council shall receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while serving in their official capacity only if they are not eligible for reimbursement by the organization that they represent. Any legislative members shall be paid the per diem and expenses specified in section 2.10.
  b.  An executive committee of the electronic health information advisory council is established. Members of the executive committee of the advisory council shall receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while serving in their official capacity only if they are not eligible for reimbursement by the organization that they represent. The executive committee shall consist of the following members:
  (1)  Three members, each of whom is the chief information officer of one of the three largest private health care systems in the state.
  (2)  One member who is the chief information officer of the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics, or the chief information officer’s designee, selected by the director of the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics.
  (3)  One member who is a representative of a rural hospital which is a member of the Iowa hospital association, selected by the Iowa hospital association.
  (4)  One member who is a consumer member of the state board of health, selected by the state board of health.
  (5)  One member who is a licensed practicing physician, selected by the Iowa medical society.
  (6)  One member who is licensed to practice nursing, selected by the Iowa nurses association.
  (7)  One representative of an insurance carrier, selected by the federation of Iowa insurers.
  3.  The executive committee, with the technical assistance of the advisory council and the support of the department, shall do all of the following:
  a.  Develop a statewide health information technology plan by July 1, 2009. In developing the plan, the executive committee shall seek the input of providers, payers, and consumers. Standards and policies developed for the plan shall promote and be consistent with national standards developed by the office of the national coordinator for health information technology of the United States department of health and human services and shall address or provide for all of the following:
  (1)  The effective, efficient, statewide use of electronic health information in patient care, health care policymaking, clinical research, health care financing, and continuous quality improvement. The executive committee shall recommend requirements for interoperable electronic health records in this state including a recognized interoperability standard.
  (2)  Education of the public and health care sector about the value of health information technology in improving patient care, and methods to promote increased support and collaboration of state and local public health agencies, health care professionals, and consumers in health information technology initiatives.
  (3)  Standards for the exchange of health care information.
  (4)  Policies relating to the protection of privacy of patients and the security and confidentiality of patient information.
  (5)  Policies relating to information ownership.
  (6)  Policies relating to governance of the various facets of the health information technology system.
  (7)  A single patient identifier or alternative mechanism to share secure patient information. If no alternative mechanism is acceptable to the executive committee, all health care professionals shall utilize the mechanism selected by the executive committee by July 1, 2010.
  (8)  A standard continuity of care record and other issues related to the content of electronic transmissions. All health care professionals shall utilize the standard continuity of care record by July 1, 2010.
  (9)  Requirements for electronic prescribing.
  (10)  Economic incentives and support to facilitate participation in an interoperable system by health care professionals.
  b.  Identify existing and potential health information technology efforts in this state, regionally, and nationally, and integrate existing efforts to avoid incompatibility between efforts and avoid duplication.
  c.  Coordinate public and private efforts to provide the network backbone infrastructure for the health information technology system. In coordinating these efforts, the executive committee shall do all of the following:
  (1)  Develop policies to effectuate the logical cost-effective usage of and access to the state-owned network, and support of telecommunication carrier products, where applicable.
  (2)  Consult with the Iowa communications network, private fiberoptic networks, and any other communications entity to seek collaboration, avoid duplication, and leverage opportunities in developing a network backbone.
  (3)  Establish protocols to ensure compliance with any applicable federal standards.
  (4)  Determine costs for accessing the network at a level that provides sufficient funding for the network.
  d.  Promote the use of telemedicine.
  (1)  Examine existing barriers to the use of telemedicine and make recommendations for eliminating these barriers.
  (2)  Examine the most efficient and effective systems of technology for use and make recommendations based on the findings.
  e.  Address the workforce needs generated by increased use of health information technology.
  f.  Recommend rules to be adopted in accordance with chapter 17A to implement all aspects of the statewide health information technology plan and the network.
  g.  Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the adoption, use, interoperability, and efficiencies of the various facets of health information technology in this state.
  h.  Seek and apply for any federal or private funding to assist in the implementation and support of the health information technology system and make recommendations for funding mechanisms for the ongoing development and maintenance costs of the health information technology system.
  i.  Identify state laws and rules that present barriers to the development of the health information technology system and recommend any changes to the governor and the general assembly.
  4.  Recommendations and other activities resulting from the work of the department or the executive committee shall be presented to the board for action or implementation.
2008 Acts, ch 1188, §25
Health information technology system business model and financial sustainability plan; legal standards and policy provisions for pilot project administered during fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011; 2011 Acts, ch 129, §111, 112
Section not amended; footnote added