Keeping Law SimpleLegislation, clearly explained
Back to Alaska
Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB272

Alaska Electronic Health Information Exchange System

Last scannedSep 22, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law requires the state to create a system that lets healthcare providers share patient records electronically while setting rules for privacy, security, and oversight.

What it does

  • Requires the Department of Health and Social Services to establish and implement a statewide electronic health information exchange system.
  • Directs the department commissioner to choose an organization (designee) to run the program with help from a governing body representing different healthcare interests.
  • Sets rules for keeping patient data private, secure, and traceable through audit logs that identify who accessed records.
  • Allows patients to stop their records from being shared in the system or view reports on who accessed them upon request.
  • Requires the department to submit an annual report to lawmakers about provider participation rates, obstacles, and recommendations for support.

Who it affects

  • The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
  • Hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers in Alaska who participate in the system
  • Patients whose medical records are stored or shared through the new system
  • Health insurers and tribal health organizations represented on the governing body

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not list specific dollar amounts needed to build and run the system, though it requires cost estimates.
  • It is unclear exactly which private company will be chosen as the designee until the department makes that decision.
  • While the bill takes effect immediately, it does not specify a deadline for when the full system must be ready.

Plain language

Terms to know

Electronic Health Information Exchange System
A statewide computer network that allows different healthcare providers to send and receive patient records securely.
Designee
The private or nonprofit group chosen by the state commissioner to manage daily tasks for the health information system.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text
Read the official summary

HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE An Act relating to the electronic health information exchange system; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 6/19/263023
  2. (S) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/18 CH 19 SLA 263023
  3. (S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR2962
  4. (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)2962
  5. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2536
  6. (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y18 N- E1 A12536
  7. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP2535
  8. (H) VERSION: HCS SB 272(HSS)2446
  9. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED2446
  10. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2445
  11. (H) PASSED Y34 N62444
  12. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS SB 272(HSS)2444
  13. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC2444
  14. (H) AM NO 1 AS AMD FAILED Y17 N232444
  15. (H) AM 1 TO AM 1 ADOPTED UC2444
  16. (H) AM NO 1 OFFERED2443
  17. (H) HSS HCS ADOPTED UC2443
  18. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME2443
  19. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/7/20262443
  20. (H) FN1: ZERO(DOH)2329

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 OFFERED 2443

AM 1 to AM 1

AM 1 TO AM 1 ADOPTED UC 2444