CS/CS/HB 1209 - Health Information Transparency

• Agency for Health Care Administration must contract with a vendor to evaluate health information technology activities and identify best practices to increase interoperability across delivery systems; report due to Legislature by December 31, 2017.

• Expands the definition of "third party" liable for Medicaid costs to include pharmacy benefits managers and other entities legally responsible for payment of health care claims.

• Reduces the timeframe for filing Medicaid liens from 3 years to 1 year after discovery of liable parties or causes of action; extends the period for the agency to pursue recovery actions from 5 years to 6 years.

• Requires health insurers, HMOs, third-party administrators, and pharmacy benefits managers doing business in Florida to respond to payment requests within 90 working days (140 days maximum) or face an uncontestable obligation to pay the claim.

• Appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring funds from the Health Care Trust Fund for fiscal year 2017-2018; effective date is July 1, 2017.