CONNIE (Health Information Exchange – Senate Bill 1)
Public Act No. 24-19 enhances liability protections for healthcare providers in case of HIE data breaches, provided they comply with privacy laws. It sets deadlines for hospitals and clinical labs to adopt EHR systems compatible with the HIE within one year, and other healthcare providers within two years, ensuring these systems meet strict privacy and security standards. The Act mandates the Office of Health Strategy to establish secure data exchange policies, including regular audits. The CSDA is collaborating with the CONNIE coalition to address potential cost impacts on dental practices due to these requirements.
Department of Developmental Service Bill Ensuring Access to Special Needs Patients (House Bill 5293)
The bill authorizes the Oral Health and Dental Services Unit to offer dental care to individuals with intellectual disabilities at specified dental offices within any DDS service region. These services must be tailored to meet individual needs and provided by qualified dentists or dental hygienists. The DDS commissioner is permitted to contract with licensed dentists or those with provisional licenses to fulfill these responsibilities.