Representative Moore (R-KS) Introduces Health Records Trust Bill

On July 11, Representative Dennis Moore, a Congressman from Kansas, introduced the Independent Health Record Trust Act of 2007.  The bill, H.R. 2991, would establish through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) a network of certified health record "trusts" for the purpose of storing individual electronic health records (EHRs).

The FTC and NCVHS would be responsible for developing standards for establishing, certifying and ensuring interoperability of all of these trusts according to provisions in the bill.

The bill also creates conditions outlining the "fiduciary responsibility" of each health record trust.  This responsibility outlines the necessity of obtaining affirmative consent by all individuals to use their electronic health data for "primary and secondary uses."  These consents allow each individual to deem what parts of their health information is accessible and under what circumstances that information may be used.  Health record trusts would also be allowed to sell pre-approved patient health data for purposes not outlined in the text of the legislation.

The bill currently has 36 co-sponsors.  To view the bill, click here.