§ 40:1167.4 — Establishment of the Electronic Health Records Loan Program

Louisiana § 40:1167.4

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 40: Public Health and Safety

Text

§1167.4. Establishment of the Electronic Health Records Loan Program
A. The "Electronic Health Records Loan Program" is hereby created within the
department.
B.(1) The secretary is hereby authorized to establish the Electronic Health Records
Loan Program utilizing such sums that are made available through any one or more of the
following:
(a) Annual appropriation.
(b) A public/private partnership involving financial institutions.
(c) Any other method authorized by law.
(2) Such funding shall be utilized by the state to satisfy the federal match
requirements of the loan program provisions of ARRA.
(3) All loan program funds shall be administered by the department pursuant to the
provisions of this Subpart.
C. To the extent permitted by law, the debt service associated with loans made to
eligible providers shall be serviced from funds received by such providers as enhanced
reimbursements under ARRA.
D. The department shall assist the state in the preparation of a competitive grant
application and any other required submissions to secure funding made available under the
ARRA loan program provisions.
E. The secretary is authorized to enter into CEAs to facilitate with any entity access
to the ARRA loan program funding and to make loans to eligible providers to provide for the
acquisition and implementation of certified EHR technology by eligible providers, and where
integrated, telehealth technology.
F. To provide for the expansion and administration of LARHIX and other related
matters, the secretary shall enter into a CEA with the Coalition, the terms of which shall
govern the program's loans made available to rural hospitals, and with the secretary's
approval, to other rural health care providers who have elected to partner with rural hospitals
in the acquisition of certified EHR technology. For purposes of this Subsection and to the
extent permitted by the ARRA, certified EHR technology will include telehealth technology
which such technology is fully integrated with the certified EHR technology acquired by the
hospital.
G. The secretary may consult with the Louisiana Healthcare Quality Forum in
administering this program.

Legislative History

Acts 2009, No. 489, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.97.4 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.; Acts 2023, No. 322, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.