HB 55 -- Healthcare Technology Fund and Commission

Sponsor:  Sater

This bill creates the Healthcare Technology Fund administered by
the Department of Social Services, in accordance with the
recommendations of the newly established Missouri Healthcare
Technology Commission unless otherwise specified by the General
Assembly, to promote technological advances to improve patient
care, decrease administrative burdens, and increase patient and
healthcare provider satisfaction.  Any programs or improvements
on technology must include encouragement and implementation of
technologies intended to improve the safety, quality, and costs
of healthcare services.

Moneys in the fund cannot be expended to the financial benefit of
any elected public official or any state employee who has direct
decision-making or administrative authority over disbursements
from the fund.  At least 25% of the funds annually disbursed must
be dedicated to technological upgrades and the promotion of
technological advances in medically underserved communities and
populations.  The department must establish the procedures and
methods for implementing the bill.

The commission will consist of 16 members of the General Assembly
with 10 members being selected by the Governor.  The commission
will develop and report recommendations relating to the
expenditure of moneys appropriated to the fund to the Governor
and General Assembly by January 1, 2008.  The recommendations
will include an analysis and review of the current status of
healthcare information technology adoption by the healthcare
delivery system in Missouri and address the potential technical,
scientific, economic, security, privacy, and other issues related
to the adoption of healthcare information technology.  The
commission will expire on April 15, 2008.

The bill prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to have
a personal identification microchip implanted as a condition of
employment.  A violation of this provision will be a class A
misdemeanor.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:17 am