AN ACT relating to an electronic health network and declaring an emergency.
     Create new sections of KRS Chapter 11 to define terms; create the Kentucky e-Health Network Board to oversee the development, implementation, and operation of a statewide electronic health network of voluntary participants using federal and voluntarily contributed funds; attach the network to the Governor's Office of Technology for administrative purposes; establish the membership of the board and various committees; require the board to establish certain committees and an advisory group to ensure input into implementation of the network; require the board to consider various models, including a model with the capability to integrate an electronic Medicaid management information system and public health alert features; require the board to submit the model to be implemented to the Legislative Research Commission; require any transactions to comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; require the board to oversee the development of the network of providers and payors and adopt standards for computer systems communicating with the network; require that geographical locations that are critical to homeland security and protection of energy production be given priority in phasing in the network; authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations; require an annual report to the Governor, Cabinet for Health Services, Office for the New Economy, Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare, and the Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance; establish a "Ke-HN fund"; amend KRS 45A.605 to permit the network to use the "information highway" for transactions, but not limit the network to the use of the highway to implement its communications; amend KRS 164.6015, 164.6021, 164.6029, 164.6037, and 154.12-274 to encourage the research, development, and funding of an electronic health network; and amend KRS 154.12-278 to expand the duties of the Office of the Commission for the New Economy to include assisting with the securing of funding for and promoting the research and development of health information technology in this Commonwealth; EMERGENCY.

     Oct 13-introduced in House; to Appropriations and Revenue (H)
     Oct 14-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with committee amendment (1)
     Oct 15-2nd reading, to Rules