THE STATE OF GEORGIA 
EXECUTIVE ORDER 
 
BY THE GOVERNOR: 
 
WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: 
WHEREAS: WHEREAS: 
WHEREAS: WHEREAS: 
WHEREAS: WHEREAS: 
 
The citizens of Georgia have an overriding interest in the containment of health care costs and concern for the escalation of preventable sickness and disease; and 
The Institute of Medicine Report of 2000 estimated that 44,000 to 98,000 people die each year from medical errors; and 
In 2004, the Department of Health and Human Services estimated that the implementation of health information technology and corresponding changes in healthcare processes could reach $140 billion in savings annually, or close to 10% of total health spending in the United States; and 
In 2005, I submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sendees (HHS) a plan to modernize Medicaid in Georgia; and 
A critical component of Georgia's plan was the concept of marketplace transparency within the health care industry. The plan gives health care consumers the opportunity to select providers and health care services based on costs and the quality of the sendee; and 
Promotion of transparency and quality in health care is a priority for the State of Georgia; and 
On August 22, 2006, President Bush signed an executive order directing agencies that administer or support health insurance programs to take steps that will result in more complete and open information for consumers; and 
The executive order mirrors the principles articulated by the State as outlined in the 2005 Georgia Medicaid modernization plan; and 
There is a growing realization that health information technology has the potential to:  improve patient safety  improve healthcare quality  enable population threat detection, both natural and man-made 
 
 WHEREAS: ORDERED: ORDERED: ORDERED: ORDERED: ORDERED: 
 
 better inform and empower health care consumers regarding their own personal health information 
 ensure care providers will have the information necessary to make informed decisions as they treat patients 
 better understand health care costs; and 
Ensuring the confidentiality, security' and privacy of each individual's health information is of primary' importance. 
NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, IT IS HEREBY 
That there is hereby created a Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisory Board to advise the Department Community Health in applying industry best practices for facilitating and encouraging the use of electronic health records and establishing a statewide strategy that will enable health information to be available across the full continuum of care. 
IT IS FURTHER 
That the Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisory Board shall consist of twelve members, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Health to serve a term of two years ending June 30, 2008. 
IT IS FURTHER 
That the Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisory Board may establish by-laws for its governance, as deemed necessary, but it is under no duty to do so. 
IT IS FURTHER 
That the Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisorv Board members shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties for the Advisory Board in accordance with the State's Statewide Travel Regulations. 
IT IS FURTHER 
That the Health Information Technology and Transparency AdvisoryBoard shall:  Provide leadership for a coordinated effort across the state to achieve 
health information exchange; 
 
 Encourage the use of electronic health records, that recognize interoperability standards as identified by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 
Promote the security' and privacy of health information; 
Conform with nationally recognized interoperability standards for exchanging health information; 
Promote marketplace transparency within the health care industrythrough the development of information to the consumer of health care regarding the cost and quality of health care; and 
In developing such information, the board shall utilize recognized quality standards developed through a multi-stakeholder initiative.