AR SB674

Appropriates $3,000,000 to the Office of Health Information Technology from the General Improvement Fund for grants supporting electronic health records adoption.

Funds may be used for personal services, operating expenses, professional fees, and debt service to improve patient care, reduce costs, and enhance health information exchange efficiency.

Office may adopt new rules and regulations to implement the appropriation without being restricted by requirements applicable to other state programs.

Appropriated funds may be supplemented by federal grants, donations, and agency unobligated cash income, but cannot come from the agency's Maintenance and General Operations budget.

Act becomes effective July 1, 2015 and declared an emergency to ensure the Office of Health Information Technology can operate immediately in the new fiscal year.