Section 130250 Of Division 109.5. California Health Information Technology And Exchange Act From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 109.5.
130250
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Health information technology provides tools that can improve
the quality, safety, and value of health care services. However, the
full benefit of health information technology cannot be realized
until electronic health record systems supporting the secure exchange
of individual health records are in place and used by health care
providers, payers, patients, and other individuals throughout the
state, and across state boundaries.
(b) There is a need to promote secure electronic health data
exchange among payers, health care providers, consumers of health
care, researchers, and governmental agencies.
(c) Health information exchange necessarily includes the sharing
of private health records and information of individuals.
Establishing the security of individual privacy rights and
confidentiality of personal health and medical records is of
paramount importance to creating public confidence in any broad-based
electronic health records system. Ensuring transparent
accountability, governance, and oversight are critical components to
maintaining the public's trust.
(d) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
(Public Law 111-5) includes within it the Health Information
Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the HITECH Act). The
HITECH Act provides an unprecedented opportunity for California to
develop a statewide health information technology infrastructure to
improve California's health care system. It includes provisions and
federal funding to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of
health information technology and exchange.
(e) Section 3013 of ARRA provides federal grant funds to
facilitate and expand the electronic movement and use of health
information among organizations according to nationally recognized
standards.
(f) Lack of a timely and available health information exchange
jeopardizes the ability of the state and providers to access
available federal Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.