BILL NUMBER: S9401A
SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the
department of health to facilitate the exchange of data between the
state prescription drug program and electronic health records
 
PURPOSE:
To direct the commissioner of health to issue regulations permitting
electronic health record vendors to obtain state approval to enable
interoperability between the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)
registry and certified electronic health record systems connected to
national data-sharing hubs.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends subdivision (c) of section 3343-a of the public
health law, as it relates to the prescription monitoring program (PMP)
registry to require the Commissioner of Health to develop regulations
allowing electronic health records (EHR) vendors to integrate their
system with the State's prescription monitoring program to ease access
of patient information for prescribers and pharmacists.
The bill would establish several requirements for this integration
including data privacy and protection, availability of information,
promotion of prescriber and pharmacist choice, and utilization of the
existing PMP infrastructure.
Section two of the legislation provides an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The effectiveness and timeliness of prescribers is being limited by the
New York prescription monitoring program (PMP) Registry's inability to
integrate with electronic health records (EHR). This means that every
time prescribers and pharmacists need to check with the PMP, which is
legally required of them when prescribing certain controlled substances
(Schedules II, Ill, and IV), they have to exit their EHR, log into a
separate PMP system, look up the data, then go back into EHR and contin-
ue writing the prescription. This invites room for error, interrupts
workflow, and takes time away from the prescriber's ability to adminis-
ter care.
Currently, there are 46 other states that have integrated their PMP data
directly into EHR systems, allowing prescribers to view necessary infor-
mation within the same platform they utilize for all patient care. The
Veterans Health Administration (VA) already requires this integration,
meaning that VA facilities operating within New York are demonstrating
the feasibility of statewide adoption.
Integrating New York's PMP with EHRs is essential to reduce prescribing
errors, save clinicians time, and ensure more consistent use of the PMP.
Streamlined access to controlled substance data within EHRs would
enhance patient safety, improve care quality, and align New York with
national best practices already adopted by most other states.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New legislation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

Statutes affected:
S9401: 3343-a public health law, 3343-a(1) public health law
S9401A: 3343-a public health law, 3343-a(1) public health law