Human Services Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-853
AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE-WIDE HEALTH INFORMATION
Title: EXCHANGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Vote Date: 2/23/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 2/16/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Human Services Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to amend the State-Wide Health Information Exchange board of
directors. Various board members will continue to be appointed by the Governor and by the
leadership of the House and Senate. This new representation to the board of directors is the
Department of Social Services. The Department of Social Services is recognized by
Connecticut as the State's single agency for Medicaid. The additional member will provide
crucial knowledge to the board about the role Medicaid plays in the State's Health Information
Exchange.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Diedre S. Gifford, Commissioner, Department of Social Services, supports this bill as it would
allow the Commissioner or a designee chosen by the Commissioner, to be a voting member
of the Board of Direction.
Victoria Veltri, Executive Director, Office of Health Strategy, supports this bill because one
main goal of the state-wide Health Information Exchange (HIE) is to provide for broad local
governance, which includes the Department of Social Services. She states that adding the
DSS Commissioner to the Board enables DSS to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities as the
Single State Agency administering the Medicaid Program. She states that this added
representation ensures that all key stakeholders have the ability to participate in the
development, oversight, and administration of the HIE in a timely and effective manner.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
There are no additional sources of support for this bill.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
There are no sources of opposition for this bill.
Reported by: Gianna Vollano Date: March 8, 2021
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