BILL NUMBER: S8747

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state technology law, in relation to the functions,
powers and duties of the office of information technology services

 
PURPOSE:

To improve Department of Health data reporting and accessibility, espe-
cially in relation to infection control data.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Adds improving government "accessibility" to the functions,
powers and duties of the Office of Information Technology Services
(OITS).

Section 2: Requires OITS to develop an action plan, in consultation with
the Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of the State Comptroller,
to improve data collection, analysis, utilization and reporting prac-
              

tices of DOH. Such plan shall consider requiring (i) expanded use of
infection control data; (ii) utilization of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) Infection Control Assessment and Response
(ICAR) tool; (iii) increased data sharing with local health districts;
and (iv) reporting public health data in a format capable of download in
a spreadsheet format.

The report shall be submitted to the governor, Temporary President of
the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the Assembly and
Minority Leader of the Assembly no later than January 1, 2023.

Section 3: Provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Multiple reviews of the number of nursing home deaths reported by the
State, including a recent audit released by the New York State Comp-
troller, have confirmed that the State significantly undercounted nurs-
ing home deaths that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Also trou-
blingly, the Comptroller's audit, "Department of Health: Use,
Collection, and Reporting of Infection Control Data" found that New York
trailed others states significantly in developing strategies that would
prevent the spread of infections in these facilities.  Further, the
Comptroller's report noted that while the Department of Health (DOH)
utilizes data as a notification and inventory system, it does not
utilize data for "trend analysis, predictive analysis, or other more
advanced functions that could be used for broader decision-making
purposes."

As the threat of future pandemics-as well as surges of COVID variants-
looms, it is essential that the State ensure it is prepared to swiftly
and effectively address these invisible threats, even when the precise
antagonist is not yet known. This legislation would help ensure the
State gleans from the lessons learned the hard way throughout the course
of the pandemic and is better prepared to address future outbreaks by
directing the Office of Information Technology Services to work in
consultation with DOH and the Comptroller to develop an action plan to
improve DOH data collection, analysis, utilization and reporting prac-
tices. Evidence-based solutions require not only accurate data, but
prudent data utilization, and it is imperative that all stakeholders can
operate with the complete and accurate data, as the pandemic revealed
that no single entity can resolve a public health crisis alone.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal, and may result in recommendations that lead to more effective
and efficient government policies.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.