Assemblymen Herb C. Conaway, Jr., MD and Upendra Chivukula Bill Would Create Integrated Health Information Technology System

CONAWAY/CHIVUKULA BILL WOULD CREATE INTEGRATED HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM

Measure Would Improve Quality of Health Care, Access to Patient Information

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Herbert C. Conaway, Jr., MD, and Upendra Chivukula sponsored that would enhance the quality of health care delivered to New Jersey residents through a health information technology (HIT) system.       

"Improving access to health records for patients and medical practitioners would ensure that every patient receives the best care available each and every time they seek medical attention," said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden), a practicing physician.  "Improving the safety of health care as we know it by reducing medical errors through the coordination of care among hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics, nursing homes, pharmacies, and health care professionals must be our paramount goal."

The "New Jersey Health Information Technology Promotion Act" (A-4044) would establish the state's first electronic medical records infrastructure and create a Health Information Technology Commission to oversee the development, implementation and oversight of the program.

"This bill will go a long way in continuing to advance the quality of health care for all New Jersey residents through a secure and integrated medical records system," said Chivukula (D-Middlesex).   "We need a comprehensive network to improve patient care, health policies, efficiency in research, while cutting administrative costs and increasing our state's emergency preparedness.  It's time that New Jersey takes the first step into the future of medical care by replacing paper records with the efficiency of electronic medical records."

"Health Information Technology can save New Jersey over one-quarter of a billion dollars," said Conaway.  "Electronic medical records also have the potential to cut-down on fraud and the misuse of New Jersey's health care resources."

Thomas Edison State College released a 1994 healthcare information networks and technology study that showed that New Jersey could save as much as $760 million by migrating from paper based systems to electronic networks.

The 15-member Health Information Technology Commission would be established within the department of Health and Senior Services to oversee the creation, implementation and functions of the statewide health information technology plan.  The commission would be charged with promoting the use of national standards for the state's HIT system including security, privacy, data content, format, vocabulary and information transfer standards.

The commission would include:

The  commissioner or a representative from the state departments of Health and Senior Services, Banking and Insurance, Human Services and Treasury;

11 members of the public with members from professional health care organizations from across the state including  one general practitioner physician, one physician who represents an acute care teaching hospital, and one physician from a non-teaching acute care hospital.   
The commission also would have access to assistance and services from any state agency as needed.

The bill was released 11 to 0.  It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who may decide if and when to post it for a floor vote.
        
--30--