WASHINGTON – In an effort to bring down health care costs, reduce medical errors, and give every individual a chance to own his or her electronic medical record, First District Congressman Paul Ryan today introduced legislation in the House that would enable the creation of independent health record banks to maintain electronic health records for those who choose to participate. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. 

This legislation – the Independent Health Record Bank Act – would facilitate the creation of a nationwide health information network so that patients’ up-to-date, complete medical information can easily travel with them to whatever doctor or hospital they visit, improving treatment and reducing mistakes in the process. Moving from paper-based records to electronic medical records will also help reduce excess paperwork, lower administrative costs, and streamline the reporting of public information to further reduce the cost of health care. A RAND study released last year found that the use of electronic medical records and establishment of a nationwide health information network could save $152 billion a year. 

“Accessing your health records should be as simple as checking your bank records using your ATM card,” Ryan said. “There is no reason that medical information can’t be managed in a similar way, with proper safeguards to protect patient confidentiality. The current cumbersome, largely paper-based system adds to the high cost of health care and sometimes can lead to errors that cost lives. We can lower costs and improve the quality of care for patients by making the transition to a nationwide system of secure electronic health records.” 

Currently, the U.S. has no unified, electronic system for storing health records. The Independent Health Record Bank Act provides legal and regulatory guidelines for the establishment of independent health record banks that would store a patient’s electronic health records, in effect creating a nationwide health information network. 

“If doctors have better information they can do a better job of treating patients,” said Brownback. “Equipped with ready access to a patient’s medical history, doctors will not have to make as many guesses about what procedures or treatments might be appropriate. Studies have shown that the adoption of electronic medical records could save billions of dollars because fewer unnecessary procedures will be performed, and medical errors will be reduced.”

Under this proposal, individuals could choose to file their medical information in an “account” with an accredited Independent Health Record Bank (IHRB) that is registered and regulated through the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General. Health record banks will be operated by nonprofit cooperative institutions, much like member-owned credit unions. Account holders and their doctors or other health-care providers would update their records as check-ups and medical treatments are provided. 

These health information banks would manage medical information in a manner similar to the way today’s financial institutions, such as banks, manage financial data. This electronic account system will allow physicians and other health care providers real-time access to patient health records. In the case of emergencies and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, where people are away from their regular doctor or hospital, having this electronic health information can be especially vital. 

Individual account holders would own their medical record and have the right to review the content of their record during business hours of the bank and add personal health information. 

Health care providers, labs and other health care entities could only access an account holder’s information with his or her consent, and the consent of the IHRB. Health record banks, with the explicit consent of the account holder, would be able to sell health information concerning that account holder as long as the data does not identify the individual and is used solely for research purposes. The health record bank and the account holder would then equally share any revenue generated by this sale.