§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.

NOTE: Subsections E and F eff. until Jan. 1, 2024. See Acts 2023, No. 322.

            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, telemedicine 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 telemedicine technology which such technology is fully integrated with the certified EHR technology acquired by the hospital.

NOTE: Subsections E and F as amended by Acts 2023, No. 322, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

            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.

            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.