Скачать или смотреть USA: BILL CLINTON ON ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS

(29 Oct 1999) English/Nat

Americans who think their medical records are confidential could be sorely disappointed
In an Oval Office ceremony on Friday, president Clinton said electronic medical records are too often falling into the hands of employers, insurers and marketing firms.

So, he proposed new regulations that would help safeguard patients' most sensitive information.

In announcing the new regulations, Clinton said there are currently no federal rules preventing employers, marketers and others from accessing Americans' electronic medical records.

In fact, he quoted a recent survey showing that more than a third of all Fortune 500 companies check medical records before they hire or promote employees.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Today with the click of a mouse, personal health information can easily and now legally be passed around without patients' consent, to people who aren't doctors for reasons that have nothing to do with health care."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Americans should never have to worry that their employers are looking at the medications they take, or the ailments they've had. In 1999, Americans should never have to worry about nightmare scenarios depicted in George Orwell's 1984. I am determined to put an end to such violations of privacy."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton

Clinton's proposal would restrict the use and release of private health information transmitted or maintained by computers.

It would not affect medical records that exist only on paper.

Under the proposal, doctors, hospitals or health plans could not release a patient's information for purposes unrelated to treatment without written consent.

When required to release medical information, health organisations would have to limit the disclosure to the minimum necessary for each case.

The plan would require health care providers to send patients a notice describing how they use electronic medical information and advise patients in advance of any changes.

Patients would also be given the right to see and copy such records, and request correction of errors.

The proposal would also create new civil and criminal penalties for improperly disclosing patient information.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"These standards represent an unprecedented step for putting Americans back in control of their own medical records."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton

Some in the medical community are concerned that the president's proposed regulations go too far, and might interfere with quality health care.

The president said Congress had the chance to pass its own plan, but it failed to meet a self-imposed August 21st deadline, so the administration was forced to act.

The administration will publish the proposal next week for review, and then it has until February of 2000 to issue changes.

The rules will take effect in 2002.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...