[Justin]

Honestly, the text of the bill is far less evil than the reporter made it out to be. I'm very disappointed that the writer took such liberties with the information that is available and Bloomberg published it under "News" rather than "Editorials".

However, I will concede that the writer did synthesize a plausible future scenario if this position progresses to its logical conclusion, but that remains to be seen.

Incidentally, the government already maintains the largest integrated system of electronic health records in the country: the VA system.

Originally Posted by HR1 Sc. 9202

SEC. 9202. INVESTMENT IN HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

(a) In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall invest in the infrastructure necessary to allow for and promote the electronic exchange and use of health information for each individual in the United States consistent with the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Such investment shall include investment in at least the following:

(1) Health information technology architecture that will support the nationwide electronic exchange and use of health information in a secure, private, and accurate manner, including connecting health information exchanges, and which may include updating and implementing the infrastructure necessary within different agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services to support the electronic use and exchange of health information.

(2) Integration of health information technology, including electronic medical records, into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals and others in the healthcare industry who would be instrumental to improving the quality of healthcare through the smooth and accurate electronic use and exchange of health information as determined by the Secretary.

(3) Training on and dissemination of information on best practices to integrate health information technology, including electronic records, into a provider's delivery of care, including community health centers receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act and providers participating in one or more of the programs under titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act (relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program).

(4) Infrastructure and tools for the promotion of telemedicine, including coordination among Federal agencies in the promotion of telemedicine.

(5) Promotion of the interoperability of clinical data repositories or registries.

The Secretary shall implement paragraph (3) in coordination with State agencies administering the Medicaid program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

(b) Limitation- None of the funds appropriated to carry out this section may be used to make significant investments in, or provide significant funds for, the acquisition of hardware or software or for the use of an electronic health or medical record, or significant components thereof, unless such investments or funds are for certified products that would permit the full and accurate electronic exchange and use of health information in a medical record, including standards for security, privacy, and quality improvement functions adopted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

(c) Report- The Secretary shall annually report to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, on Ways and Means, on Science and Technology, and on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Finance, on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and on Appropriations of the Senate on the uses of these funds and their impact on the infrastructure for the electronic exchange and use of health information.

Keep in mind that this Office was established 5 years ago:

Health Information Technology

Also, here's the language of the bill that this lady seems to be referencing:
SEC. 3001. OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

"(a) Establishment-- There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services an Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (referred to in this section as the 'Office'). The Office shall be headed by a National Coordinator who shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall report directly to the Secretary.

"(b) Purpose-- The National Coordinator shall perform the duties under subsection (c) in a manner consistent with the development of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure that allows for the electronic use and exchange of information and that--

"(1) ensures that each patient's health information is secure and protected, in accordance with applicable law;

"(2) improves health care quality, reduces medical errors, reduces health disparities, and advances the delivery of patient-centered medical care;

"(3) reduces health care costs resulting from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate care, duplicative care, and incomplete information;

"(4) provides appropriate information to help guide medical decisions at the time and place of care;

"(5) ensures the inclusion of meaningful public input in such development of such infrastructure;

"(6) improves the coordination of care and information among hospitals, laboratories, physician offices, and other entities through an effective infrastructure for the secure and authorized exchange of health care information;

"(7) improves public health activities and facilitates the early identification and rapid response to public health threats and emergencies, including bioterror events and infectious disease outbreaks;

"(8) facilitates health and clinical research and health care quality;

"(9) promotes prevention of chronic diseases;

"(10) promotes a more effective marketplace, greater competition, greater systems analysis, increased consumer choice, and improved outcomes in health care services; and

"(11) improves efforts to reduce health disparities.

It seems clear to me that the "help guide medical decisions" part refers not to the Office's role as an omniscient final arbiter of all medical decisions, but rather just as part of a list of the benefits of standardized medical records (the contents of which will, presumably, "help guide" the decisions of doctors).