Tell the US Senate It’s Time to Repeal the Ban on a Unique Patient Identifier
In June, the US House of Representatives adopted an amendment striking language in the House FY20 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill that prohibits the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using federal funds to promote or adopt a unique patient identifier. Striking this language will give HHS the ability to evaluate a range of patient identification solutions that protect patient privacy and are cost-effective, scalable, and secure.
Now that a budget deal in Congress has materialized, we expect the US Senate to move quickly to consider the Senate FY20 Labor-HHS appropriations bill this fall. Before Congress returns in September, we ask that you contact your US Senators via AHIMA’s Advocacy Action Center to encourage them to remove this archaic ban.