[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2108-E2109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT

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                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 10, 2007

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, we live in the Information Age, but health 
care, one of the most information-intensive segments of our economy 
remains mired in a pen-and-paper past. We can buy airline tickets 
online, we can check our bank accounts from anywhere in the world, and 
we send pictures of new babies and grandchildren to friends and family 
via e-mail or instant messages. The health care industry, however, 
remains dangerously disconnected. Patients' medical histories are 
largely disaggregated among the various physicians who have treated 
them, and are often inaccessible to a new doctor or even to the 
patients themselves.
  Such an inefficient health care information system creates 
unnecessary risks and costs. It's time to look at health care in a new 
way, focusing on overall health and not simply disease. We need to move 
toward a model of integrated care by providing ways for a patient's 
physicians to coordinate their care, and promote the modernization of 
our nation's health care system.
  Health information technology (HIT) promises to revolutionize the 
health care delivery system and have a powerful effect on enhancing 
patient safety, reducing medical errors, improving the quality of care, 
and reducing health care costs. The deployment of HIT and the adoption 
of important patient tools such as electronic health records (EHRs) 
have been slow and have not kept pace with the advances of technology 
in nearly every other aspect of our lives.
  To accelerate the adoption of HIT and create market conditions and 
incentives which will encourage investment in this critical technology, 
I'm introducing today the Promotion of Health Information Technology 
Act. This legislation builds on the excellent work of Senators Kennedy 
and Enzi and will promote HIT in the federal government and throughout 
the health care sector.
  Any meaningful HIT legislation must establish a process for the rapid 
formulation and implementation of standards to facilitate the exchange 
of interoperable health data and create incentives to ensure that these 
technologies are actually adopted. The Promotion of Health Information 
Technology Act establishes a streamlined process for the adoption of 
HIT interoperability standards and requires the federal government to 
abide by the standards it sets.
  The legislation establishes a permanent position within HHS with 
broad responsibility to facilitate the exchange of interoperable health 
information and coordination of the government's own health IT 
activities and procurement. It also creates a permanent public-private 
advisory body to recommend or endorse appropriate HIT interoperability 
standards with

[[Page E2109]]

definitive timeframes for adoption and updates. Broadly accepted 
interoperability standards are vital to the development of IT systems 
that can communicate and share information.
  Under my legislation all federal HIT procurement must comply with the 
standards endorsed by the interoperability standards body. In addition, 
all agencies that collect health data electronically for purposes of 
quality reporting, health surveillance and other purposes must comply 
with endorsed standards. For HIT to gain a foothold in the health care 
marketplace, it is essential for the federal government to utilize its 
purchasing power in healthcare to ensure the United States is rapidly 
adopting these innovative technologies.

  The Promotion of Health Information Technology Act also provides 
important protections for patients and their sensitive medical 
information. The bill establishes an ongoing system for certification 
of Electronic Health Records products by third-party entities and 
guarantees that individuals will have the right to inspect and obtain a 
copy of their EHRs and amend any inaccurate or fraudulent information. 
It also clarifies that operators of health information electronic 
databases like Google Health, Revolution Health, and WebMD are deemed 
to be covered entities under HIPAA. The use of non-identifiable health 
data for public health and research purposes is permitted with 
appropriate patient approval.
  The bill establishes a process for the development of reports by 
``Health Quality Organizations'' on federal healthcare data to advance 
healthcare research, enhance consumer education and awareness, and 
provide the public with reports on national, regional, and provider- 
and supplier-specific performance.
  Finally, to provide resources for the adoption of HIT nationwide the 
Promotion of Health Information Technology Act authorizes funding for 
grant programs to assist state and local governments adopt HIT and 
promote adoption within their states. It also establishes a grant 
program for regional health information exchanges and a competitive 
grant program for private sector healthcare providers, with a 
preference for providers that use the ``Medical Home'' patient care 
model, which allows patients to have a single point of care and a 
medical provider to coordinate care through the use of HIT. The 
legislation also provides incentives for utilizing broadband to deliver 
HIT in underserved areas and funding of academic curricula to train 
qualified Health IT professionals.
  Madam Speaker, the power of HIT to transform American health care is 
clear, but without aggressive action by the Congress to promote and 
adopt HIT, we will not see the benefits of these innovative 
technologies for years to come. The Promotion of Health Information 
Technology Act will ensure that the federal government foster the 
development and implementation of advanced Health IT networks and 
technologies in our country.

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