The proposed bill, SB1178, amends the existing Health Care Interoperability Grant Program by requiring the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) to provide a single grant of $12,000,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2025 to a company that licenses an interoperability software technology solution specifically for acute care in rural hospitals and trauma centers. This bill extends the grant program permanently, modifies eligibility requirements, and prohibits the grant recipient from using third-party vendors to meet program requirements. Additionally, it extends the deadline for awarding the grant from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024.

Key changes from current law include the shift from a competitive grant program to a single grant award, the focus on acute care rather than urban trauma centers, and the requirement for the software solution to be accessible via a mobile native application. The bill also introduces new specifications for the interoperability software, such as enabling mobile connectivity and proactive alerts on smart devices, and mandates annual renewal of the software license. Furthermore, it repeals previous legislation related to the grant program and clarifies definitions for "mobile" and "native" applications.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-703.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 41-703.01