Bill Text: CT SB00217 | 2018 | General Assembly | Chaptered


Bill Title: An Act Requiring The Health Information Technology Officer To Establish A Working Group To Evaluate Issues Concerning Polypharmacy And Medication Reconciliation.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2018-06-01 - Signed by the Governor [SB00217 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2018-SB00217-Chaptered.html

Substitute Senate Bill No. 217

Special Act No. 18-6

AN ACT REQUIRING THE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE ISSUES CONCERNING POLYPHARMACY AND MEDICATION RECONCILIATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section:

(1) "Polypharmacy" means the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a patient to treat one or more ailments or conditions;

(2) "Medication reconciliation" means the process of comparing a patient's admission, discharge and transfer medication orders to all of the medications the patient has been taking for the purpose of avoiding medication errors, including omission, duplication, dosing errors and drug interactions; and

(3) "Prescribing practitioner" means a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or nurse-midwife licensed by the state of Connecticut and authorized to prescribe medication within the scope of such person's practice.

(b) The Health Information Technology Officer designated under section 19a-755 of the general statutes shall establish a working group to evaluate issues concerning polypharmacy and medication reconciliation. The members of the working group, who shall be appointed by the Health Information Technology Officer, shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(1) Two experts in polypharmacy;

(2) Two experts in medical reconciliation;

(3) A representative of the Department of Consumer Protection;

(4) A pharmacist licensed under chapter 400j of the general statutes;

(5) A prescribing practitioner; and

(6) A member of the State Health Information Technology Advisory Council established pursuant to section 17b-59f of the general statutes.

(c) Not later than July 1, 2019, the Health Information Technology Officer shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, regarding the findings and recommendations of the working group to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and general law.

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