House Committee Okays I.T. Bill

July 24, 2008

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on a voice vote has approved legislation to encourage adoption of health information technology and make several changes to the HIPAA privacy rule.

The Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008, H.R. 6357, also is called the PRO(TECH)T Act. Among other provisions, the bill would authorize $560 million in grants and loans to help providers adopt electronic health records systems.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association recently set a letter to committee leaders expressing significant concerns to privacy provisions in the original bill covering patient consent for disclosure and use of information. Although the bill was revised, Association officials were not immediately available to comment on if the substitute addresses their concerns. For text of the association’s letter, click here.

For text of the substitute and adopted amendments, click here.

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