SENATE BILL 341

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT ELECTRONIC PATIENT HEALTH RECORDS AT PRIMARY CARE CLINICS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2009 and subsequent fiscal years to implement electronic patient health records in primary care clinics eligible to receive funds under the Rural Primary Health Care Act to assist primary care clinics to implement comprehensive electronic patient records, including laboratory and radiology test results that are exportable to state, federal and regional registries and databases; to improve practitioner access to evidence-based protocols, decision support tools and best practices in disease management and prevention; to prescribe medications through systems with alerts for adverse drug reactions; to involve patients more fully in their health care through personal health records; to reduce mortality and morbidity caused by preventable medical errors; and to achieve cost savings through elimination of unnecessary or duplicative treatment and diagnostic tests. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

- 2 -