NCVHS Releases Report on
Uniform Standards
for Patient Medical Record Information

July 17, 2000 - The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), the Public Advisory Body to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has released its report on Uniform Standards for Patient Medical Record Information.

NCVHS was directed by HIPAA to "study the issues related to the adoption of uniform data standards for patient medical record information and the electronic exchange of such informaiton."

The report addresses the protection of confidentiality of medical records information; reducing barriers to the electronic exchange of information caused by diverse state laws; increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in the standards development process; and coordinating the development of patient information standards within the broader context of a National Health Information Infrastructure.

It recommends that the government take a leadership role in addressing these issues by accelerating the development, adoption and coordination of patient medical records information standards. The report was prepared by the Computer-based Patient Record Work Group within the NCVHS Subcommittee on Standards and Security.

Full Report in PDF format (400K).