‘Authorized Users’ Would Get ‘Complete Access’ to Patient Health Records

(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) has drafted “interoperability” legislation that would require private electronic healthcare record (EHR) companies to provide unrestricted, one-stop access to patient medical records.

Burgess, a physician, released a draft version of his bill on March 9 to solicit comments by March 13.

It would give “authorized users access to the entirety of a patient’s data from any and all qualified electronic health records (EHR) without restriction” - including “complete access” to health data “in one location, without the need for multiple interfaces (such as sign on systems).”

"Authorized users" include government officials, academic researchers, insurance companies and others besides health care providers.

Under his proposal, the secretary of Health and Human Services would establish a “Charter Organization” made up of representatives of standards development groups, health care providers, electronic record-keeping companies, insurers and group plans appointed by Congress to propose new interoperability rules.

The draft provides “incentives” for practitioners and hospitals that comply, and “penalties” for those who do not, including the loss of federal certification. The HHS secretary would also be required to report “any barriers that are preventing widespread interoperability” to Congress and document “specific steps” taken to overcome the barriers by July 1, 2016.

More here