What's happening
This bill requires certain hospitals and healthcare providers to use electronic health records connected to regional health information organizations, with waivers allowed for hardship.
Why it matters
Expands electronic health record (EHR) requirements. to include not only hospitals, but also office-based surgery practices and certain walk-in healthcare providers—potentially affecting a broader range of medical settings and increasing the uniformity of patient data sharing.
Strengthens regional health information organizations (RHIOs). by mandating they be accessible and able to connect with all covered providers, plus any others who wish to join, which could improve care coordination and patient safety through easier information exchange.
Acknowledges financial and technical barriers. by allowing providers to apply for available funding for health IT upgrades and by establishing a waiver process for providers facing economic hardship, technological limitations, or exceptional circumstances—potentially reducing the burden on small or resource-strapped practices.
Could increase regulatory oversight and compliance costs. for healthcare providers, especially smaller clinics or practices, while also aiming to enhance interoperability and reduce fragmentation in health records across New York’s healthcare system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Electronic Health Records
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1484
- Referred to health
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 54–5
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 2 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.385
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Digital Health Records
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2248
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to electronic health records
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Title 1 of article 29-D of the public health law is amended by adding a new section 2997-f-1 to read as follows:
§ 2997-f-1. Electronic health records. 1. All hospitals licensed under article twenty-eight of this chapter, all office-based surgery practices accredited pursuant to section two hundred thirty-d of this chapter, and any health care provider licensed pursuant to title eight of the education law who operates a practice which accepts unscheduled, walk-in appointments from patients that are not regularly seen by the practitioner and has extended hours of operation shall utilize and maintain an electronic health record system that connects to the local regional health information organization to facilitate the exchange of health information.
2. Each regional health information organization shall ensure it is accessible and capable of connecting all hospitals and health care providers under this section, and any other health care provider or qualified health entity and their electronic health record vendors, including, but not limited to, private physician practices and county health departments that wish to connect to the regional health information organization.
3. Health care providers may apply for any funding available for health information technology and electronic health record infrastructure.
4. The commissioner shall establish a process by which the health care providers covered by this section may apply for a waiver from the electronic health record requirements imposed by this section due to econom-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02954-01-7
S. 2248 2
ic hardship, technological limitations that are not reasonably within the control of the health care provider, or other exceptional circumstance demonstrated by the health care provider.
§ 2. This act shall take effect 2 years after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that, effective immediately the commissioner of health is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to ensure that regional health care organizations are capable of complying with the provisions of this act on its effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to electronic health records
Purpose
To ensure certain health care facilities utilize electronic health records and connect to regional health information organizations in order to facilitate the exchange of health information.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds a new Public Health Law (PHL) § 2997-f-1 to require all Article 28 hospitals, office-based surgery practices under PHL § 230-d, and Urgent Care or similar providers that offer extended hours and accept unscheduled, walk-in appointments from patients that are not regularly seen by the practitioner to utilize and maintain an electronic health record (EHR) system that connects to the local regional health information organization (RHIO) in order to facilitate the exchange of health information. Each RHIO must ensure it is accessible and capable of connecting all health care providers or qualified entities and their EHR vendor. Providers may apply for any available funding for health information technology and electronic health record infrastructure to achieve the requirements of this section. This section also authorizes the Commissioner to implement a waiver process to exempt providers from this section due to economic hardship or technological limitations outside of the control of the provider, or other exceptional circumstances.
Section two provides that this act take effect in two years; however, effective immediately, the Commissioner is authorized to promulgate regulations necessary to implement.
Justification
New York's health care infrastructure is undergoing a great deal of transformation. New York is home to emerging models of care that consumers are opting to utilize, such as "minute clinics" and urgent care facilities. Consumers may opt to have many procedures, which thanks to medical advances, can safely be performed in ambulatory and office-based settings, rather than visiting a hospital. The Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program pursuant to the federal waiver with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) demands a decrease in hospital admissions in exchange for a focus on providing community based care. While these consumer driven, community models of care thrive, health care reform continues its focus on primary, preventative medicine and managing the care of entire patient. This legislation ensures that information regarding a patient's visit to an urgent care or similar facility providing episodic care will make it into the patient's health care record so that it can be accessed by the patient, the patient's primary care provider, and other connected facilities the patient may subsequently utilize. Connecting these providers will also ensure they have access to the patient's existing health record, enabling them to provide the patient with the best care.
As part of this system transformation, the state has spent billions of dollars building an infrastructure, the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY) and bringing all regional health information organizations (RHI0s) onto a level playing field, in order to facilitate this sharing of health information. CMS, pursuant to the federal waiver, requires that certain providers connect and share information. By bringing together more providers, this legislation will help advance the success of this network and achieve the trip aim of improving health, enhancing quality and reducing cost. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2015-2016: S.5094-A - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Two years; provided the Commissioner is authorized to promulgate regulations immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.