Summary of Public Act 18-91 (HB 5290)

• Establishes the Office of Health Strategy within the Department of Public Health as an independent office with an executive director appointed by the Governor, consolidating health planning, health information technology, and all-payer claims database functions previously scattered across multiple agencies

• Transfers the Office of Health Care Access (renamed Health Systems Planning Unit) from the Department of Public Health to the Office of Health Strategy, giving the executive director independent decision-making authority over certificate of need approvals for new health care facilities and services

• Centralizes health information technology oversight including the all-payer claims database, consumer health information website, state-wide health information exchange, and appoints a health information technology officer to coordinate these initiatives across state agencies

• Moves the Health Care Cabinet from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to the Office of Health Strategy and requires the executive director to serve as chairperson instead of the Lieutenant Governor

• Makes the executive director of the Office of Health Strategy a "department head" for state civil service purposes and updates various state agency references and assessments to reflect the new organizational structure