With the conference report available on the web, here are the references to the health care provisions in the conference report of the 'stimulus' bill. I have not gone into great detail on the privacy provisions (which are, in large part, dedicated to a new aggressive federal watchdog/ punishment regime to enforce the privacy standards– that have not been developed yet).
Nor have I done a complete look at the COBRA and Medicaid expansion provisions.
But, make no mistake, this may be called a 'stimulus' bill— but it is really a massive expansion of the federal health care bureaucracy.
Of the 1434 pages, pages 806-1251are dedicated to the expansion of the federal health care bureaucracy. (That is, not including the COBRA, Medicaid, etc. expansion that begins on page 1278)
There is absolutely no doubt that the authority and power vested in federal agencies is a HUGE step toward complete government-mandated and government-run health care. Or, as I call it— welcome to 'healthcare-by-lobbyist".
Page 806 line 13 400,000,000 to NIH for comparative effectiveness research
page 807 line 4 400,000,000 to HHS for comparative effectiveness research
page 811 ONCHIT 3,000,000,000
page 826 line 8 establishes There is hereby established a Federal9 Coordinating Council for Comparative Clinical Effective10ness Research
page 900 health information technology (HITECH ACT)
page 909 federal electronic record goals
page 910 : ''(viii) Specific plans for ensuring that populations with unique needs, such as children, are appropriately addressed in the technology design, as appropriate, which may include technology that automates enrollment and retention for eligible individuals.
Page 911: HARMONIZATION.—The Secretary may recognize an entity or entities for the purpose of harmonizing or updating standards and implementation specifications in order to achieve uniform and consistent implementation of the standards and imple6mentation specifications.
Pages 914-15: ''(7) ASSISTANCE.—The National Coordinator may provide financial assistance to consumer advocacy groups and not-for-profit entities that work in the public interest for purposes of defraying the cost to such groups and entities to participate under, whether in whole or in part, the National Technology Transfer Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
Page 915: The National Coordinator shall establish a governance mechanism for the nationwide health information network.
Page 920: the HIT Policy Committee may consider the following additional areas:''(i) The appropriate uses of a nationwide health information infrastructure, including for purposes of—''(I) the collection of quality data and public reporting;''(II) biosurveillance and public health;''(III) medical and clinical research; and''(IV) drug safety.''(ii) Self-service technologies that facilitate the use and exchange of patient information and reduce wait times.
… ''(x) Any other technology that the HIT Policy Committee finds to be among the technologies with the greatest potential to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare.
Page 923: puts Unions firmly at table in HIT Policy Committee— providers only get 1 member (same as labor), also one member shall have expertise in improving the health of vulnerable populations;
Page 935: HHS Secretary has complete authority over the implementation and decision to implement all HIT standards
Page 938: ONCHIT director can impose federal fees on private providers for implementation: ''(c) AUTHORIZATION TO CHARGE A NOMINAL FEE.The National Coordinator may impose a nominal fee for the adoption by a health care provider of the health information technology system developed or approved under subsection (a) and (b). Such fee shall take into account the financial circumstances of smaller providers, low income providers, and providers located in rural or other medically underserved areas.
Page 942: ONCHIT can require private entities to have approved electronic medical records SEC. 13112. APPLICATION TO PRIVATE ENTITIES.Each agency (as defined in such Executive Order issued on August 22, 2006, relating to promoting quality and efficient health care in Federal government adminis11tered or sponsored health care programs) shall require in contracts or agreements with health care providers, health plans, or health insurance issuers that as each provider,plan, or issuer implements, acquires, or upgrades health information technology systems, it shall utilize, where available, health information technology systems and products that meet standards and implementation specifications adopted under section 3004(b) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 13101
Page 952: Subtitle C—Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology
Page 955: Provide $300,000,000 to support regional or sub-national efforts towards health information exchange
Page 955: ''SEC. 3012. HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE
Page 955-56: To assist health care providers to adopt, implement, and effectively use certified EHR technology that allows for the electronic exchange and use of health information, the Secretary, acting through the Office of the National Coordinator, shall establish a health information technology extension program to provide health information technology assistance services to be carried out through the Department of Health and Human Services. The National Coordinator shall consult with other Federal agencies with demonstrated experience and expertise in information technology services, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in developing and implementing this program.
Page 958-9: This section is first real area where regional 'nonprofits' are beginning to get control over health data and best practices…HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTERS
FOR EXAMPLE: ''(F) integration of health information technology, including electronic health records, into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals and others in the healthcare industry that would be instrumental to improving the quality of healthcare through the smooth and accurate electronic use and exchange of health information.
PAGE 968: HHS SECRETARY USING FUNDS for state grants CAN: (large and bold mine)
The Secretary shall annually evaluate the activities conducted under this section and shall, in awarding grants under this section, implement the lessons learned from such evaluation in a manner so that awards made subsequent to each such evaluation are made in a manner that, in the determination of the Secretary, will lead towards the greatest improvement in quality of care, decrease in costs, and the most effective authorized and secure electronic exchange of health information.
Page 984: PRIVACY essence:
1. Notification if 'breach' suspected2. patients can restrict access except as in other laws allowed and for collection of data on care3. no private group can sell data, but government and its approved organizations get it for free4. enormous verbiage dedicated to penalties for breaches5. but the government can just recommend 'corrective actions' instead of penalties6.hhs secretary can require audits from covered entities
primary health section ends page 1051
Eric Novack,MD, practices orthopedic surgery full time in Arizona. In addition to being an avid patient advocate, he has written for THCB and other blogs, he has published opinion pieces in many newspapers, and has made appearances on a variety of TV and radio shows. Dr. Novack hosted his own radio show for 2 1/2 years in Phoenix, and was the founder and chairman of the recent Proposition 101 campaign to amend the Arizona Constitution to add protections to keep individuals, not bureaucrats and lobbyists, in charge of their health and health care.
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