(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District – Kansas) today introduced the Independent Health Record Trust Act (H.R. 2991), bipartisan legislation that would establish a nationwide health information technology network.

Under the Independent Health Record Trust Act, individuals will have the option of submitting their medical records to be managed electronically by health record trusts. In turn, these trusts will ensure the security, confidentiality and privacy of the consumers’ sensitive medical information. With electronic accounts, medical records travel with the individual, creating a lifetime medical record and leading to more accurate diagnoses and treatments.

“Health information technology has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of health care for all Americans by significantly reducing medical errors, reducing wasteful administrative costs, and ensuring that appropriate and accurate information is available for medical decisions,” said Moore. “I believe that there is no better way to transition the medical community from paper-based medical records than by adopting independent health record trusts.”

Patients will have ownership of their electronic record and can create multiple health entries so that, for example, their dermatologist does not see their mental health history. Physician adoption is encouraged by allowing revenue generated from data transactions authorized by the patient to be shared with physicians and providers as non-taxable income for inputting data into the system. Physicians can access patient records online using a secure password authorization.

“This forward-looking plan would utilize market forces to drive the creation of a fully interoperable, nationwide HIT network, while also taking additional steps to protect the privacy of sensitive medical information,” Moore said. “Our healthcare system is plagued by rising costs and declining quality of care. If we fail to act now, the situation will only get worse.”

Moore was joined by Congressman Paul Ryan [First District – Wisconsin] and 34 bipartisan colleagues in introducing the bill in the House. The rest of the Kansas House delegation – Congressman Todd Tiahrt [Fourth District], Congressman Jerry Moran [First District] and Congressman Nancy Boyda [Second District] – are original cosponsors of the legislation.

Last Congress, Moore and Ryan introduced the Independent Health Record Bank Act. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas introduced the Senate version, and intends to introduce similar legislation soon in the Senate.

The Independent Health Record Trust Act enjoys the support of a large coalition of health care and public policy organizations, including the Progressive Policy Institute, Patient Safety Institute, Patient Privacy Rights, National Alliance of Hispanic Health and the Heritage Foundation.