HI HR70

Requests the Department of Health to establish a task force on electronic health records to develop standardized information technology practices among behavioral health providers and the Department of Health.

Addresses incompatibilities between the Department of Health's medical records systems and electronic data systems used by behavioral health providers, which currently require providers to enter patient notes twice.

Task force composition includes the Director of Health (as chair), representatives from behavioral health agencies within the Department of Health, and members of the behavioral health provider community.

Task force is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2011 Regular Session convenes.

Aims to align the Department of Health's systems with federal health data standards established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to improve efficiency and reduce costs in behavioral health care provision.