The Commission on Systemic Interoperability (CSI), created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recommended that the federal government develop a nationwide patient authentication standard that protects individuals' information. The commission issued a report today that also recommends that HHS lead an effort to offer financial incentives to providers to foster the electronic exchange of health information.
The CSI report, "Ending the Document Game: Connecting and Transforming Your Healthcare through Information Technology," pinpoints 14 steps for creating a connected system of instantly accessible health records in the U.S.
In addition to confidentiality and funding recommendations, CSI urged the U.S. government to "act with urgency to revise or eliminate regulations" that create roadblocks to the implementation of interoperable electronic health records (EHRs), in particular the Stark law and the federal antikickback law.
HHS issued a proposed regulation earlier this month that would amend the physician self-referral law in regards to EHR adoption and implementation, according to CSI.
CSI also recommended the development, maintenance, and adoption of data standards, and for the certification of healthcare information technology products to ensure systems meet the standards for exchanging information.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
October 25, 2005
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