On January 20, 2016, the U. S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions released this draft bipartisan bill for staff discussion, which seeks to improve health information technology, including electronic health records. The draft bill proposes several changes with the goal of improving health information technology (HIT), including a proposal to create transparency ratings on usability and security to help providers choose HIT products. It will allow HIT users to share feedback on the user experience related to security, usability, and interoperability.
It would also create a process for developing standards that would give priority to electronic health record standards that address the “most pressing problems” facing the healthcare community. Significantly, the bill requires HHS to give deference to standards developed in the private sector. The bill would also “empower” patients regarding access to their electronic health information, and encourage the use of health information exchanges to promote patient access to by educating providers.
The bill also seeks to reduce documentation burdens on providers. It authorizes non-physician members of the team, such as nurses, to document on behalf of physicians. This, the committee says, will allow and encourage health professionals to practice at the top of their license.
The Committee requests feedback on the proposed bill by January 29, 2016. Comments should be submitted to HealthIT@help.senate.gov. The committee’s summary of the bill is available here.
Reporter, Scott Cameron, Sacramento, +1 916 321 4807, scameron@kslaw.com.
