AN ACT relating to consumer access to health care information.
     Amend KRS 216.2921 to require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to make health data on the cost and quality of health care available to consumers; amend KRS 216.2923 to require the secretary to make information on the quality and outcomes of health care services provided by hospitals and ambulatory facilities on the Internet on an annual basis; delete provision that requires the secretary to publish information that relates to the cost of workers' compensation health benefits and motor vehicle health insurance benefits; amend KRS 216.2925 to specify quarterly, rather than periodic, reports to the cabinet by hospitals and ambulatory facilities; delete the provision that permits the cabinet to conduct statistical surveys of a sample of hospitals, ambulatory facilities, or other providers in lieu of requiring the submission of information of by all hospitals, ambulatory facilities, or providers; specify that a list of medical conditions, health services, and procedures be submitted to the cabinet on a quarterly basis; require electronic submission of data to comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; require the cabinet to collect data elements using the Professional or Institutional 837 (ASC X12N 837) format adopted by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; amend KRS 216.2927 to require the cabinet to make all public use data public no less than 60 days after the reports are accepted; amend KRS 216.2929 to require the cabinet make available on the Internet information on charges for specific health care services and procedures which allows consumers to compare every hospital, ambulatory facility, and other provider groups; allow all providers 30 days to submit comments on their data and include such comments as part of the cabinet's printed report; specify that the cabinet shall utilize national quality indicators that have been endorsed and adopted by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, the National Quality Forum, or the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

     Feb 21-introduced in House
     Feb 22-to Health and Welfare (H)
     Feb 27-posted in committee
     Mar 2-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar; floor amendment (1) filed
     Mar 3-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 9-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 10, 2006
     Mar 21-taken from the Regular Orders of the Day; recommitted to Appropriations and Revenue (H)