[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CRAIG (for himself, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Baucus, 
        Mr. Crapo, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Carper, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
        Ensign, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Kyl, Mrs. 
        Lincoln, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Smith of Oregon):
  S. 1588. A bill to provide a 1-year extension of the date for 
compliance by certain covered entities with the administrative 
simplification standards for electronic transactions and code sets 
issued in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act of 1996; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I am happy to join Senator Dorgan in 
reintroducing legislation regarding the administrative simplification 
provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. 
We originally introduced legislation five months ago and have worked 
since then with members from both the Finance and HELP committees to 
negotiate a compromise. The bill we are introducing today is the 
product of those discussions. It provides for one additional much-
needed year for providers, State health programs, health plans and 
others to implement the transactions and code set provision of 
administrative simplification. Importantly, this new version also 
includes language to clearly differentiate between this provision and 
the privacy provision of HIPAA. It was our intention all along that the 
medical privacy regulations not be affected by our legislation, and we 
believe this bill accomplishes that goal. My colleague and I have the 
benefit of being joined on this bill by many of the cosponsors of the 
original bill, and we are happy to have their support.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, Like Senator Craig, I appreciate the 
cooperation of our colleagues in helping us to work through this issue. 
We have arrived at a solution that is agreeable to the majority of 
parties involved, while at the same time reaching our goal of providing 
relief to small providers and plans and public health programs that are 
struggling to prepare their systems for this cost. Senator Craig and I 
would have preferred that this bill go further in providing more time 
and coordination for affected entities. On the other hand, we 
acknowledge that others would prefer no action in this area. Since we 
are just one year from the scheduled compliance date, however, we 
recognize that all those affected need some certainty as they move 
forward with complying with the transactions and code sets regulation. 
Given that this bill does provide needed relief for our states and 
given the time constraints we are facing, we believe this compromise is 
appropriate and do not feel an additional extension can be acquired.
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