Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) on Wednesday introduced a bill in the House that would establish a nationwide health IT network of independent trusts, Healthcare IT News reports.
The Independent Health Record Trust Act would allow patients to submit their medical records to be managed electronically by health trusts, which would be charged with ensuring that the data remain secure, confidential and private.
"I believe that there is no better way to transition the medical community from paper-based medical records than by adopting independent health record trusts," Moore said.
The legislation would give patients control of their electronic health record and an opportunity to create multiple versions of their EHR for different providers.
The legislation encourages physicians to adopt the technology by allowing revenue generated from data transactions authorized by patients to be shared with providers as nontaxable income, Moore added. Physicians will use a secure password to access the EHRs.
A bipartisan group of 34 representatives joined Moore in introducing the legislation. Moore noted that a coalition of health and public policy organizations have endorsed the bill, including the:
- Heritage Foundation;
- National Alliance of Hispanic Health;
- Patient Privacy Rights;
- Patient Safety Institute; and
- Progressive Policy Institute.
Cerner also supports the measure, according to Moore (Monegain,
Healthcare IT News, 7/11).