HOUSE BILL 693

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

John A. Heaton

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT ELECTRONIC PATIENT HEALTH RECORDS AT PRIMARY CARE CLINICS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--Two million dollars ($2,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 to implement electronic patient health records in primary care clinics eligible to receive funds under the Rural Primary Health Care Act to assist these primary care clinics in developing analyzable, comprehensive patient records, including laboratory and radiology test results; seamlessly exporting information or data to state, federal and regional registries and databases; improving practitioner access to evidence-based protocols, decision support tools and best practices in disease management and prevention programs; prescribing medications through systems with alerts for adverse drug reactions; devising systems for measuring patient outcomes and offering practitioners incentives for positive patient outcomes; involving patients more fully in their health care through personal health records and web portals; reducing mortality and morbidity caused by preventable medical errors; and achieving cost savings through elimination of unnecessary or duplicative treatment and diagnostic tests. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

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