Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes various healthcare reforms and improvements and study various aspects of healthcare in Connecticut.

Highlights:

• Authorizes various healthcare reforms and improvements and studies various aspects of healthcare, such as ensuring that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are prepared for cyberattacks (Sec. 1-35).

• Authorizes the procurement of resources to health care facilities in the event of a cyberattack to help reduce operational disruptions, including a radio communication system, an intranet system for secure communication within a building, cardiac monitors, and fax machines, printers, and laptops that work with an intranet system (Sec. 1-35).

• Requires the state to create an emergency management system that is intranet-based to document routine and emergency events, a diversion management system so hospital emergency departments can communicate with first responders about where to divert patients, and a process for state agencies to work with health carriers so hospitals could continue billing Medicaid and private insurers to reduce the risk of a sudden reduction in cash flow (Sec. 1-35).

• Specifies that the state Department of Public Health’s Office of Public Preparedness and Response shall oversee the efforts with Connecticut’s chief information officer and other agencies. The resources would be part of the state’s public health emergency response plan (Sec. 1-35).

• Requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to convene an annual meeting with members of the National Guard, representatives from the state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and health officials to discuss and prepare for cyber threats (Sec. 1-35).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes various healthcare reforms and improvements and study various aspects of health care in Connecticut.

Highlights:

• Authorizes various healthcare reforms and improvements and studies various aspects of healthcare, such as ensuring that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are prepared for cyberattacks (Sec. 1-35).

• Authorizes the procurement of resources to health care facilities in the event of a cyberattack to help reduce operational disruptions, including a radio communication system, an intranet system for secure communication within a building, cardiac monitors, and fax machines, printers, and laptops that work with an intranet system (Sec. 1-35).

• Requires the state to create an emergency management system that is intranet-based to document routine and emergency events, a diversion management system so hospital emergency departments can communicate with first responders about where to divert patients, and a process for state agencies to work with health carriers so hospitals could continue billing Medicaid and private insurers to reduce the risk of a sudden reduction in cash flow (Sec. 1-35).

• Specifies that the state Department of Public Health’s Office of Public Preparedness and Response shall oversee the efforts with Connecticut’s chief information officer and other agencies. The resources would be part of the state’s public health emergency response plan (Sec. 1-35).

• Requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to convene an annual meeting with members of the National Guard, representatives from the state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and health officials to discuss and prepare for cyber threats (Sec. 1-35).

Full Bill Text