Health IT Bill Must Include Privacy, Shrinks Say

Congress should not approve legislation to enhance the nation's healthcare computing systems unless that bill includes protections for patient privacy, according to an association of psychoanalysts.

H.R. 6357, the “Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008” or the PRO(TECH)T Act is bipartisan legislation is designed to strengthen the quality of health care, reduce medical errors and costs by encouraging the adoption of Health Information Technology (HIT), and further protect the privacy and security of health information in the electronic age, according to a statement from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The legislation promotes the nationwide adoption of an HIT infrastructure and establishes incentives for doctors, hospitals, insurers, and the government to exchange health information electronically across the country, the committee says.

Additionally, H.R. 6357 makes permanent the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) at the Department of Health and Human Services and encourages the use of an electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014. It also strengthens the law protecting the security and privacy of an individual’s health information through provisions such as requiring notification when personal health information is breached, the panel adds.

“Your grocery store automatically knows what brand of chips you bought last year, but your cardiologist doesn’t automatically know what prescriptions your family doctor prescribed for you yesterday. That’s problematic for health care quality and costs,” says Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the committee.

The bill was approved last month by a House subcommittee and awaits further action.

But lawmakers should not approve the bill unless it contains specific provisions, says the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA), which describes itself as ardent protectors of medical privacy.

Specifically, the association says the PRO(TECH)T Act include at least the following provisions:

-- Recognition of the individual's right to privacy for his or her health information;

-- Recognition of the right of consent for routine disclosures other than those required by law;

­­-- Preservation of the psychotherapist-patient privilege on the federal
and state levels; and

-- Preservation of the right of the individual to pay out of pocket and not have information about those health services disclosed without patient consent, unless otherwise required by law.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/ and drop back in for more news from the nation's capital.