New Health Information Act

Congressmen Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced new legislation May 11 that promises to digitize the health care system.

Also called the 21st Century Health Information Act, the Murphy-Kennedy bill (H.R. 2234) devotes federal resources to provide grants to regional health information organizations, enhance Medicare and Medcaid reimbursements, and purchase health information technology products that meet interoperability standards.

Both Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, support the act.

Bottom Line: If passed, the new bill will create secure interoperable health information networks that protect patients' privacy, open the doors for e-prescribing, improve quality outcomes and decrease health care costs, its founders predict.
hippa wire

The question of how this will impact on HIPPA concerns and compliance is something which needs to be investigated. Carefully.