SB 1044 - This act requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to create a request for proposal for the establishment of a consumer health information portal. Such portal shall be designated as the official cost and quality health data website for the state. The act lists the items to be included in the response to the request for proposal, which shall include a plan to: -Collect, compile, coordinate, analyze, index, disseminate, and utilize publicly available non-protected health care data currently collected by the department or any state or federal agency, including outcome data submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services;
-Establish a website that enhances informed decision making among consumers and health care purchasers, which shall include at a minimum, appropriate guidance on how to use the data and an explanation of why the data may vary from provider to provider; and
-Launch the website for consumer use by March 15, 2011.
The competitive bid shall be at no cost to the state with the vendor benefitting from being named the sole provider of the information for the state sponsored website for the negotiated number of years. The bid process shall close by November 15, 2010, and a vendor chosen by December 31, 2010.
ADRIANE CROUSE