§ 10301. Health IT-Fund

(a) The Vermont Health IT-Fund is established in the State Treasury as a special fund to be a source of funding for Medical Health Care Information Technology Programs and initiatives such as those outlined in the Vermont Health Information Technology Plan administered by the Secretary of Administration or designee. One hundred percent of the Fund shall be disbursed for the advancement of health information technology adoption and utilization in Vermont as appropriated by the General Assembly, less any disbursements relating to the administration of the Fund. The Fund shall be used for loans and grants to health care providers pursuant to section 10302 of this chapter and for the development of programs and initiatives sponsored by VITL and State entities designed to promote and improve health care information technology, including:

(1) a program to provide electronic health information systems and practice management systems for health care and human service practitioners in Vermont;

(2) financial support for VITL to build and operate the health information exchange network;

(3) implementation of the Blueprint for Health information technology initiatives, related public and mental health initiatives, and the advanced medical home and community care team project; and

(4) consulting services for installation, integration, and clinical process re-engineering relating to the utilization of health-care information technology such as electronic health records.

(b) The Health IT-Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of Administration or his or her designee.

(c) Into the Fund shall be deposited:

[Subdivision (c)(1) repealed effective July 1, 2021].

(1) revenue from the health care claims tax imposed on health insurers pursuant to subdivision 10402(b)(1) of this title.

(2) contributions from the Department of Vermont Health Access, as appropriated by the General Assembly; and

(3) the proceeds from grants, donations, contributions, taxes, and any other sources of revenue as may be provided by statute, rule, or act of the General Assembly.

(d) The Fund shall be administered pursuant to subchapter 5 of chapter 7 of this title, except that interest earned on the Fund and any remaining balance shall be retained in the Fund. All monies received by or generated to the Fund shall be disbursed solely as allowed by appropriation of the General Assembly.

(e) VITL and any other entity requesting disbursements from the Health IT-Fund shall develop a detailed annual plan for proposed expenditures from the Health IT-Fund for the upcoming fiscal year. The expenditure plan shall be included within the context of the entity's overall budget, including all revenue and expenditures.

(f) The plan developed under subsection (e) of this section shall be submitted to the Secretary of Administration or his or her designee, the Green Mountain Care Board, the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the House Committee on Health Care, and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.

(g) The Secretary of Administration or his or her designee shall submit an annual report on the receipts, expenditures, and balances in the Health IT-Fund to the Joint Fiscal Committee at its September meeting and to the Green Mountain Care Board. The report shall include information on the results of an annual independent study of the effectiveness of programs and initiatives funded through the Health IT-Fund, with reference to a baseline, benchmarks, and other measures for monitoring progress and including data on return on investments made.

(h) VITL and any other beneficiary receiving funding shall submit quarterly expenditure reports to the Secretary of Administration and to the Green Mountain Care Board, including a year-end report by August 1.

(i) Any primary care practitioner receiving an electronic health information system, practice management system, or both pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall maximize usage of such system in accordance with the guidelines developed by VITL. A practitioner who is determined by VITL to be using the system to less than its full capacity shall be provided with an opportunity for additional instruction as needed to enable full usage of the system. If a practitioner is unwilling or unable to utilize the system to its full capacity, such practitioner shall refund to VITL the fair market value of the system. (Added 2007, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), § 7.004, eff. June 7, 2008; amended 2009, No. 61, § 9, eff. June 2, 2009; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.35; 2011, No. 63, § G.105; 2013, No. 73, § 50, eff. July 1, 2013; 2013, No. 73, § 52, eff. July 1, 2021.)