This kind of Government Policy is included in the new Electronic Medical Record regulation
ByI never did read the final version but a provision in the Economic Recovery Act created a Czar for EMR or electronic medical records within HHS. It gives the government access to every EMR so that they can look at medical actions i.e. treatments given to you by your doctor. The idea is quality assurance and how much your doctor will earn for treating you effectively. There are lots of ramifications but here is one from “Cash for Clunkers” that I just became aware of and think the EMR provisions will be quite similar.
Here is an excerpt from the final bill referring to EMR’s, look at bold face around line 15-18.
You can get a copy in PDF form here appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf
(1) Health information technology architecture
that will support the nationwide electronic exchange
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and use of health information in a secure, private,
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and accurate manner, including connecting health
4
information exchanges, and which may include up-
5
dating and implementing the infrastructure nec-
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essary within different agencies of the Department
7
of Health and Human Services to support the elec-
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tronic use and exchange of health information.
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(2) Integration of health information tech-
10
nology, including electronic medical records, into the
11
initial and ongoing training of health professionals
12
and others in the healthcare industry who would be
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instrumental to improving the quality of healthcare
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through the smooth and accurate electronic use and
15 through the smooth and accurate electronic use and
exchange of health information as determined by the
16
Secretary.
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(3) Training on and dissemination of informa-
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tion on best practices to integrate health information
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technology, including electronic records, into a pro-
20
vider’s delivery of care, including community health
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centers receiving assistance under section 330 of the
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Public Health Service Act and providers partici-
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pating in one or more of the programs under titles
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XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act (re-
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