[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":448,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is continuing his crusade to prevent members of Congress from lifting a 20-year ban on using federal funding for a unique patient identifier. Paul has introduced the National Patient Identifier Repeal Act of 2019 in response to recent bipartisan efforts in the House of Representatives to overturn the prohibition.In June, the House adopted an amendment to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2020, that would eliminate the ban. Supporters of removing the prohibition were hoping the Senate would follow suit. However, Paul was able to keep legislative language banning federal funding for the unique patient identifier in last week\u2019s Fiscal Year 2020 draft Labor-HHS appropriations bill.\u201cAs a physician, I know firsthand how the doctor-patient relationship relies on trust and privacy, which will be thrown into jeopardy by a National Patient ID,\u201d said Paul in a written statement. \u201cConsidering how unfortunately familiar our world has become with devastating security breaches and the dangers of the growing surveillance state, it is simply unacceptable for government to centralize some of Americans\u2019 most personal information.\u201d

Paul is calling for a standalone law repealing the original authority to create the National Patient ID under HIPAA, which \u201cestablished the statutory authority to create a unique health identifier, a distinct ID code to identify the medical records of every individual, employer, health plan, and healthcare provider in America.\u201d The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives sharply criticized Paul\u2019s introduction of the National Patient Identifier Repeal Act.\u201cThe patient identification conversation is one about saving lives and unlocking the potential for technology to revolutionize healthcare while cutting costs,\u201d said CHIME President and CEO Russ Branzell in a written statement. \u201cSen. Paul\u2019s arguments are tired and lack a grasp of current reality. They are, to put it mildly, antiquated and from some bygone era. He tried a similar effort during a recent HELP Committee markup, but his ill-fated amendment was met with a resounding defeat by members of even his own party. Our patients deserve better and it is the time to do the right thing. No more excuses.\u201dOriginally, language was introduced to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill in 1998 by Paul\u2019s father\u2014former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas)\u2014to restrict the use of federal funds to develop the unique patient identifier, a ban that has been renewed in each subsequent appropriations bill over the last 20 years.","saveContent":"Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is continuing his crusade to prevent members of Congress from lifting a 20-year ban on using federal funding for a unique patient identifier. Paul has introduced the National Patient Identifier Repeal Act of 2019 in response to recent bipartisan efforts in the House of Representatives to overturn the prohibition.In June, the House adopted an amendment to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2020, that would eliminate the ban. Supporters of removing the prohibition were hoping the Senate would follow suit. However, Paul was able to keep legislative language banning federal funding for the unique patient identifier in last week\u2019s Fiscal Year 2020 draft Labor-HHS appropriations bill.\u201cAs a physician, I know firsthand how the doctor-patient relationship relies on trust and privacy, which will be thrown into jeopardy by a National Patient ID,\u201d said Paul in a written statement. \u201cConsidering how unfortunately familiar our world has become with devastating security breaches and the dangers of the growing surveillance state, it is simply unacceptable for government to centralize some of Americans\u2019 most personal information.\u201d

Senator Paul introduces National Patient Identifier Repeal Act

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