National Health Information Infrastructure Act of 2003 Introduced in Congress

WASHINGTON, DC, July 24, 2003 – Congresswoman Nancy Johnson today introduced the "National Health Information Infrastructure Act of 2003," a measure to dramatically improve health care quality by revolutionizing how providers use clinical information to treat patients. "The information systems that securely give you 24/7 access to your bank account can be adapted to transform American health care into a 21st Century system," said Johnson, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.

"Development of such a system is being impeded by the lack of comprehensive architectural standards to assure interoperability," Johnson continued. "No provider wants to invest in an IBM for fear others will invest in a Mac. All systems must be able to communicate with each other. Within that framework, a health information technology infrastructure can develop and medicine can advance to the next level of quality care."

The lack of a national health information infrastructure costs Americans and the quality of our health care system tremendously:

• It costs us $5.4 billion a year because tests or second opinions cannot be located.
• Known medical errors costs us $29.4 to $35.4 billion a year.
• It now takes an average 17 years for new knowledge generated by controlled clinical trials to be incorporated into practice! The process is slow and highly uneven across the country because it is largely dependent on the distribution of knowledge via journals and other paper documents.

The Act starts in motion the development of information technology that is comprehensive and interoperable across the country – something that is not possible now. This will improve the quality and efficiency of health care at the point of care. Building on available and developing technology like personal digital assistants, we can make available to care-givers a patient’s complete and accurate medical record at their fingertips in real time. Current paper files can be incomplete and illegible. Digital records that can be updated in real time can help prevent errors and redundant testing. E-prescribing through these new technologies and equipment promise to reduce medication errors and prevent adverse drug interactions.

Through a national health information infrastructure, patients will also be able to access their medical records and health information, becoming a more active partner in the decisions over their own health.

The Act will authorize a National Health Information Officer, working under the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to work with public and private health care entities to develop a strategic plan to (1) coordinate multiple public and private initiatives, (2) accelerate the adoption of voluntary national communications and data standards, and (3) implement a national health information infrastructure.

Within one year of enactment, a national agenda for progress toward the NHII will be reported to Congress, along with time lines for the adoption of standards and development of the system, all based on the recommendations of a broad group of public and private sector interests.

The goals of the NHII Act are to:

• Maximize positive outcomes in clinical health care;
• Minimize preventable errors;
• Reduce administrative paperwork;
• Decrease costs related to duplicative or otherwise unnecessary testing and procedures; and
• Establish compatibility systems and avoid financing and development of systems that become obsolete.

The NHII enjoys broad support within the health care community:

eHealth Initiative: "The eHealth Initiative applauds the introduction of the NHII Act of 2003 and Congresswoman Johnson’s important leadership on this issue," said Janet Marchibroda, CEO of the eHealth Initiative. "The provisions in the bill strongly support a higher quality, safer and more efficient health care system in America through targeted federal leadership around the NHII. They encouraging the more widespread use of standards-based health care information technology to support better health and health care."

AHIMA: "The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has long believed that for the United States’s health care industry to meet the current and future needs of the nation, a properly funded and maintained NHII should be established," said Dan Rode, AHIMA’s Vice President of Policy and Government Relations. "We commend Chairman Johnson for her energy and leadership on this issue and believe that her legislation will enable a positive and comprehensive evolution of our healthcare system."

NAHIT: "Congresswoman Johnson has been a key proponent of patient safety and has led the push for healthcare information technology adoption," said Scott Wallace, President and CEO, The National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT). "NAHIT supports the proposed legislation as a promising avenue for fostering the public/private partnership necessary to continue the momentum toward widespread implementation of interoperable healthcare information technology systems."

HIMSS: "Advancing the best use of IT for the betterment of American’s health is the mission of HIMSS," said Carla Smith, Executive Vice President of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). "We applaud Congresswoman Johnson’s long-term vision for U.S. health care and support the introduction of this important piece of legislation."

Read the text of HR 2915, the "National Health Information Infrastructure Act of 2003."

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