Connecticut General Statutes Title 19A. Public Health and Well-Being § 19a-904c. Electronic health records systems; utilization by hospitals

(a) For purposes of this section:

(b) Each hospital licensed under chapter 368v  2 shall, to the fullest extent practicable (1) use its electronic health records system to enable bidirectional connectivity and provide for the secure exchange of patient electronic health records between the hospital and any other health care provider who maintains an electronic health records system capable of exchanging such records and provides health care services to a patient whose records are the subject of the exchange, and (2) send or receive an electronic health record in accordance with the provisions of this subsection upon the request of a patient or, with the consent and authorization of the patient, a patient's health care provider, provided the transfer or receipt of the electronic health record constitutes a secure exchange and does not violate any state or federal law or regulation or constitute an identifiable and legitimate security or privacy risk. If the hospital has reason to believe that the transfer of an electronic health record under subdivision (2) of this subsection would violate a state or federal law or regulation or constitute an identifiable and legitimate security or privacy risk, the hospital shall notify the patient or health care provider who made the request.

(c) The requirements of this section apply to electronic health records that include, but are not limited to: (1) Laboratory and diagnostic tests; (2) radiological and other diagnostic imaging; (3) continuity of care documents; and (4) admission, discharge or transfer documents.

(d) Each hospital shall implement the use of any hardware, software, bandwidth or program functions or settings already purchased or available to it to support the secure exchange of electronic health records and information as described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a hospital to pay for, install, construct or build any new or additional information technology, equipment, hardware or software, including interfaces, where such additional items are necessary to enable such exchange.

(f) The failure of a hospital to take all reasonable steps to comply with this section shall constitute evidence of health information blocking pursuant to section 19a-904d.

(g) A hospital that connects to, and actively participates in, the State-wide Health Information Exchange, established pursuant to section 17b-59d shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this section.