[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 113 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION ACT (H.R. 4157)

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2006

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of health information 
technology, which holds great promise for reducing medical errors, 
lowering costs, expediting diagnoses and treatments, and facilitating 
quality care. However, I must oppose this legislation due to the 
complete lack of a mechanism for safeguarding patient privacy, opening 
up the dangerous possibility of identity theft or personal 
infringement.
  Estimates vary as to the amount of money that health information 
technology will save our healthcare system, but it could surely be in 
the tens of billions of dollars. Making health information accessible 
electronically by health care providers with the proper clearance would 
improve the quality of care by getting providers to patients' medical 
history quickly and efficiently. This would reduce medical errors, 
increase patient satisfaction, and decrease the number of lawsuits.
  Unfortunately, the bill that the House passed will not accomplish any 
of these goals. Providers do not have access to any funding assistance, 
which they will need to purchase health information technology. We 
should be making grants and loans available to physicians so that they 
can take advantage of the promise of health IT, realizing the promise 
of improved care.
  A larger problem is that this bill will jeopardize the privacy of 
medical records. We have all seen the unconscionable and irresponsible 
loss of sensitive personal information by federal agencies like the 
Veterans Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 
and the Department of Transportation. This loss of personal information 
is a breach of trust by the federal government. Passing this 
legislation without reasonable privacy safeguards will only put 
patients at greater risk.
  We should be doing more to protect the patients' names, medical 
history, and financial information. Unfortunately, this legislation 
abdicates that responsibility. The Rules Committee even disallowed 
consideration of amendments to accomplish that reasonable and important 
goal. Whereas the Senate worked on a bipartisan basis to pass a 
comprehensive and responsible bill, the House has wasted an opportunity 
to improve healthcare and reduce costs for all Americans.
  I support health information technology, and I believe in the promise 
that it holds. Unfortunately, I cannot support legislation that makes 
American patients more likely to have their personal information stolen 
and their privacy violated.
    

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