[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E829-E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE MEDICAL PRIVACY IN THE AGE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ACT

                                 ______


                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 1996

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the Medical 
Privacy in the Age of New Technologies Act. This legislation will 
ensure that a patient's personal health information will not be 
disclosed without that patient's consent.
  For the first time, patients nationwide will have control of their 
medical records and have the right to deny outsiders access to their 
private medical information.
  This sounds like a simple principle with which the medical community 
should already comply. Unfortunately, current medical privacy 
guidelines are inadequate and vary from State to State. In fact, the 
papers are filled with horror stories about insurers, banks, and 
employers misusing health information to discriminate against 
individuals. While businesses gain this medical information to the 
detriment of the rest of us, only 28 States, including Washington 
currently allow people even to examine their own medical records.
  The legislation I am introducing today will give individuals the 
right to know what is being done with their medical information. It 
will place in the individual's control what is done with that 
information, who sees it, and why.
  In addition to being inadequate, today's privacy standards fail to 
address the impact of new technologies on our medical system. These new 
technologies deeply affect the privacy of health information. This bill 
addresses the threats to an individual's health information from new 
genetic technologies, and from the computerization of medical records.
  Genetic health information is an especially sensitive part of a 
patient's medical record. As knowledge increases about the genetic 
component of many common diseases, so does the possibility that 
information in an individual's medical file will be used to deny entire 
families health care coverage. One recent study documented 200 cases of 
healthy people being denied jobs, insurance, the right to adopt, and 
educational opportunities because they either had or were suspected to 
have a genetic predisposition for a disease, even though they did not 
actually have the disease.
  Computers have revolutionized the way in which an individual's 
medical information is collected, stored, and disseminated. Without 
adequate enforceable standards, this information can easily be misused 
to breach the privacy rights of patients and lead to several forms of 
discrimination.
  Now, I don't want to get into horror stories which already have 
occurred in the private sector, but I do want to warn you that Congress 
has yet to realize the importance and consequences of computer 
technologies in the medical system. Just last month, the House passed 
Administrative Simplification provisions as part of the Kennedy-
Kassebaum health insurance reform bill. These provisions would force 
doctors to computerize sensitive patient medical records to make it 
easier for insurance companies to bill patients. Yet, in making it 
easier for insurance companies to maximize their profits, Congress 
failed to attach adequate privacy protections. New technologies have 
the potential to improve the quality of health care, to help doctors 
effectively treat their patients, and to lower the cost of health care. 
However, strong medical record privacy protections must be in place to 
ensure that such technologies are not misused to discriminate against 
patients and their families.
  I believe this bill gives patients the right to protect their 
personal health information from being misused and prevent them from 
feeling the wrath of discrimination to which the erosion of medical 
standards could lead.

[[Page E830]]



               HONORING LANCE CPL. JACKIE PAUL CHIDESTER

                                 ______


                           HON. ROBERT W. NEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 1996

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I commend the following article to my 
colleagues:
  Approximately 2:00 a.m., on May 10, 1996 at Camp Lejeune, NC, two 
U.S. Marine Corps helicopters collided while participating in 
``Combined Joint Task Force Exercise 96.'' This exercise known as ``war 
games'' consisted of 53,000 British and American troops. The incident 
which occurred in a wooded area near Courthouse Bay boat basin at Camp 
Lejeune involved a troop carrier and an assault helicopter. There were 
16 victims, 14 dead or in critical condition.
  Lance Cpl. Jackie Chidester, 23, of Newark, OH was one of the 14 
servicemen that died. Jackie was part of the S-3 BLT 2/8 24th NEU(SOC) 
Unit. The Battalion Landing Team of the 2nd Division, 8th Marine 
Regiment, 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
  Lance Cpl. Chidester excelled in the classroom and in athletics while 
attending Licking Valley High School. He was the captain of the Licking 
Valley football team in 1990 when they clinched the championship and 
won all-league honors. He also was a State qualifier in wrestling 
during his junior year. In 1991, Jackie graduated from Licking Valley 
and attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH. Lance Cpl. Chidester was 
the son of Imogene Miller and Jackie Lee Chidester.
  ``He fulfilled a life long dream when he enlisted in the Marine 
Corps,'' his father stated, ``he loved the Marines. It was rough, 
tough, and he loved it.''
  Whereas, the citizens of the United States and the 18th Congressional 
District of Ohio, with a real sense of honor join me in commending 
Lance Cpl. Jackie Paul Chidester on his dedication to serve and protect 
our great country. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, 
and colleagues in the Marine Corps.

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