It’s All in the Details!
Recently, A concerned client (rightfully so) wrote me asking about the notice she had just received informing her of HIPPA Obligations Amendment. She says, “I have read this through, but would greatly appreciate a translation in the simplest form! What exactly does this mean to the Employer as well as the Employee? I have seen several, what I feel are, disturbing advertisements regarding all medical information being shared by all. While this might be beneficial in many ways, I think it is also disturbing in many ways, an invasion of an individual’s privacy. Is this what this is referring to? And what are the rights/options of the Employee?
What are the rights of the employee or a better question might be, what are our individual rights concerning our health records?
My client sent over the information which is part of the economic stimulus package President Obama signed into law in February 2009. The amount of that package was $787 billion and intended to stimulate our economy and included between $19 and $24 billion for Health Information Technology (HIT). At the signing ceremony here in Denver, Obama said that digitizing the health records of Americans was “long overdue” and would help eliminate duplication and save billions of dollars. DETAILS
She writes, “It actually looks like it is the HITECH bill, all medical records to be electronically shared, and there are incentives to get doctors to participate. While in ways this could be good, I honestly hate that there will be just one more place all private information will be generally accessible! I feel like this violated patient/doctor privileges!”
I agree with her that there is real reason for concern and insure that it is done right and not just another huge government agency. Not to mention a hackers paradise and allowing our government to again take one more step towards total control over our lives!
Federal Leadership for the Nationwide Exchange of Health Information
The legislation codifies the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) within the Department of Health and Human Services. This office is responsible for creating a nationwide health information technology infrastructure aimed at improving health care quality and care coordination.
Did you know that this was going to create one huge government office (HEALTH RECORD CZAR) to oversee all our medical records housed in one place? It was this next statement that also struck me as highly suspect.
Last Par 1st page….
After standards are adopted in 2009, the National Coordinator shall make available at a nominal fee an electronic health record, unless the Secretary determines that the needs and demands of providers are being substantially and adequately met by the marketplace. Nothing in the legislation requires that entities adopt or use the technology made available through this provision.
Very Scary Stuff! Though I believe the whole industry and nation agrees that electronic medical records is a key component (huge factor) to solving many of the underlying issues that directly cause skyrocketing health care costs. Again, it’s all in the details. TechCostsPie
Though we are moving forward in some areas that will produce good reform and will lower health care costs, we need to be careful how much government is in the solution. Government must play a part, but we know when it comes to administration and control, those are areas best left (and/or given) to the private sector (our country).
