Amendment #9 to S2543

Technical Advisory Group to Ensure Appropriate Clinical Care

Ms. Decker of Cambridge moves to amend the bill in section 12, in proposed section 70I of chapter 111 of the General Laws, by striking subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following new subsection:

(c)(i) The department shall promulgate such regulations for licensed providers and entities as may be necessary to implement this section. In doing so, the commissioner shall convene a technical advisory group to further refine this section, advise on technical aspects of the implementation of this section, and make recommendations to the legislature on necessary legislative changes with the goal of mitigating restrictions of appropriate data sharing that limit interoperability to ensure access to necessary clinical information to maximize appropriate clinical care.

(ii) In its work, the technical advisory group shall explore and make recommendations on: standardization of service definitions and terminology and structured standardized data; reducing the administrative burden and impacts on clinical care of patient consent forms, including through the use of consent management platforms; mitigating restrictions of appropriate data sharing and limitations on interoperability that impact patient care; the appropriateness of exempting information accessed, used and disclosed for treatment, payment and health care operation purposes; minimizing penalties for organizations making good faith efforts to implement the statute.

(iii) The technical advisory group shall consist of the commissioner of public health or designee, who shall serve as chair; a representative of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association; a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society; a representative of the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals; a representative of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts; a representative of Fenway Health; a representative of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans; a representative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; a representative of the Massachusetts e-Health Institute; a representative with expertise in health information privacy; a representative with expertise in health information technology; a representative of Health Care for All; and two persons with lived experience.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #9, as changed to S2543

Technical Advisory Group to Ensure Appropriate Clinical Care