Executive Order Number 10-01

Executive Order Number 10-01 (PDF, 167 KB)

Executive Order Creating the Office of Health Information Technology

WHEREAS, the health care delivery system in Illinois faces significant challenges to maintaining the financial and human resources necessary to provide high quality and cost effective care; and

WHEREAS, the use of electronic medical records and the exchange of health information will significantly improve care coordination, reduce medical errors and health disparities, improve patient safety and outcomes, and control the cost of healthcare; and

WHEREAS, implementation of health information technology will create the need for highly skilled jobs; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is home to highly regarded medical centers, hundreds of hospitals and other providers, innovative health information technology companies, and colleges and universities with well respected information technology programs; and

WHEREAS, a wide range of health care stakeholders has been working since 2007 to plan for a statewide health information exchange that will facilitate the exchange of health information between and among all providers and ensure the privacy and security of all data exchanged; and

WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) committed more than $2 billion to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to ensure that all Americans have an electronic health record by 2014; and

WHEREAS, the ONC will direct a portion of this funding to states for the purpose of building health information technology infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, $34 billion in ARRA funding is dedicated nationwide for financial incentives to Medicaid and Medicare providers for the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records, and as such, the State has a compelling interest in assisting Illinois providers to qualify for those ARRA incentives; and

WHEREAS, achievement of meaningful use of and the eligibility of Illinois hospitals and practitioners for the federal Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments depends upon the availability of health information exchange throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois has submitted a proposal to the ONC pursuant to its cooperative agreement program for states to promote health information technology, and has requested federal funds to plan and implement a statewide health information exchange; and

WHEREAS, the ONC has announced that Illinois will receive $18.8 million in ARRA funds to establish the Office of Health Information Technology for the purpose of establishing standards, facilitating the exchange and meaningful use of appropriate health information, and protecting the privacy and security of such information; and

THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to the supreme executive authority of the Governor as set forth in Article V, Section 8 of the Illinois Constitution, do hereby order as follows:

1. CREATION
   The Office of Health Information Technology is created within the Office of the Governor. This Office shall be responsible for overseeing the State’s development and implementation of health information technology initiatives, including the creation of a statewide health information exchange.
2. PURPOSE
   1. The purpose of the Office of Health Information Technology will be to promote the development of health information technology, increase the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records, assure the privacy and security of electronic health information, and direct the State’s planning for a statewide exchange.
   2. The Office of Health Information Technology will be responsible for the obligations of the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program with the federal government.
   3. The Office of Health Information Technology will engage a broad range of health care stakeholders in developing its Strategic and Operational plan to create a statewide health information exchange.
   4. The Office of Health Information Technology will assist the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs in developing legislation and working with the General Assembly to create a statewide health information exchange.
3. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
   The Office of Health Information Technology shall utilize existing State resources and employees.
4. TRANSPARENCY
   In addition to whatever policies or procedures it may adopt, the Office will be subject to the provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.) and the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.). This section shall not be construed so as to preclude other statutes from applying to the Office and its activities.
5. SAVINGS CLAUSE
   Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to contravene any state or federal law.
6. SEVERABILITY
   If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.

                                                                                    _______________________
                                                                                    Pat Quinn, Governor

Issued by Governor: February 16, 2010
Filed with Secretary of State: February 16, 2010