July 13, 2007 - The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) applauds the Independent Health Record Trust Act, the first bill to give every American access to an electronic version of his or her health records and link them to a health information network, introduced by Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), Paul Ryan (R. Wisc.) and 33 cosponsors.
The bill would promote the creation of health record trusts that will let patients control access to their medical records and let their doctors see their patients' most critical information on a single computer screen.
This legislation closely follows the three policy recommendations that PPI outlined in “Building a Health Information Network,” by David B. Kendall of PPI:
Set federal rules for independent health record trusts. The bill creates a certification process that bestows a regulatory seal of approval upon trusts that are verifiably adhering to government standards.
Give patients a legal right of access to medical records that are already being stored electronically. Current law only gives patients a right to a paper copy of their health records. The Moore bill extends this requirement to electronic data. All health care providers and insurance plans with electronic patient data would give health record trusts access to the information so that it can be gathered into one electronic health record account.
Strengthen patients' privacy rights. The bill gives patients control over who has access to their health records. It also gives patients the right to review who has seen their records and be notified of any security breaches.
According to Kendall, “The Independent Record Trust Act provides a complete roadmap for moving health care into the Information Age. It can fulfill the promise of information technology to lower health care costs, improve quality and increase access.”
For more information: www.ppionline.org
June 28, 2024 
