HI HB694

Establishes the Health Analytics Program within the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services to develop and maintain an all-payer medical claims database for analyzing healthcare costs and quality.

Creates four exempt positions: health analytics and informatics program administrator, senior healthcare analytics and research coordinator, program and contracts financial coordinator, and healthcare statistician, exempt from civil service provisions under chapter 76.

Authorizes the program to collect, analyze, and publish comparative healthcare cost and quality data in consultation with the Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund, and University of Hawaii.

Appropriates $703,980 from general revenues for fiscal year 2018-2019 to establish the program and fill 1.2 full-time equivalent positions, plus $495,120 from federal funds for 0.8 full-time equivalent position.

Takes effect July 1, 2018, with the program authorized to contract with the Pacific Health Informatics and Data Center at the University of Hawaii as a data analytics partner.