EXECUTIVE ORDER 07-02

WHEREAS, on April 12, 2004, the Federal Administration called for widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records within 10 years and established the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; and

WHEREAS, the federal Department of Health and Human Services estimates that savings of $140 billion per year, or close to 10% of total health spending in the United States, could be achieved through health information technology and health information exchange (“HIT/HIE”) by reducing duplicative care, lowering health care administrative costs, and avoiding medical errors; and

WHEREAS, in December of 2004, Governor Kathleen Sebelius created the Kansas Health Care Cost Containment Commission (“H4C”) which identified HIT/HIE as key to a long-term strategy for improving quality, safety, and efficiency in Kansas’ health care system; and

WHEREAS, in October of 2005, the H4C commissioned the Kansas Statewide HIT/HIE Policy Initiative to develop recommendations for infrastructure needed to support HIE in Kansas; and

WHEREAS, Kansas recognized that early adoption of a statewide health information infrastructure would improve health care quality, safety and efficiency by:  1) ensuring health information is available to health care providers at the point of care for all patients; 2) reducing medical errors and avoiding duplicative procedures; 3) improving coordination of care between hospitals, physicians, and other health professionals; and 4) providing consumers access to quality and cost information as well as their own health information to encourage greater participation in their health care decisions; and

WHEREAS, a statewide health information infrastructure must be structured in a manner to protect the privacy and security of health information.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, I hereby create the Kansas Health Information Exchange Commission (“Commission”) with the following purposes and charges:

1. The Commission shall consist of no more than 20 members appointed by the Governor.  Membership shall include representatives of the provider community, consumers, business community, health plans, government, information technology experts and health policy experts.
2. The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation at the pleasure of the Governor.
3. The co-chairpersons of the Commission shall be designated by the Governor from among the Commission’s membership.
4. The Commission shall promote the public good by ensuring an equitable and ethical approach to HIE for the improvement of health care.
5. The Commission shall encourage collaboration and facilitate a standardized approach to interoperable HIE in Kansas and across state lines.
6. The Commission shall recommend policy that will advance HIE in Kansas while protecting the privacy and security of citizens’ private health information.
7. The Commission shall leverage existing HIE initiatives in Kansas and proactively seek opportunities to utilize HIE for the betterment of Kansas’ health care system.
8. The Commission shall meet regularly as determined by the co-chairs and provide updates to the Governor, including an annual written report on plans, activities, accomplishments and recommendations for HIE in Kansas.
9. The Commission shall continue in existence until all of its objectives are achieved, but no later than December 31, 2010.

This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order No. 07-02 and shall become effective immediately.