U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) | Contributed photo
+ Regulatory
Jamie Barrand | Oct 16, 2015

Senate bill seeks better quality control in health information technology systems

U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently unveiled bipartisan legislation aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency in health information technology (IT) systems.

Dubbed the Transparent Ratings on Usability and Security to Transform Information Technology (TRUST IT) Act of 2015, the measure would, in addition to ensuring certified health IT systems perform as they should, put in place a rating system so consumers can  compare products based on performance.

“Right now, after a health IT product is certified for use, there’s no way to ensure that it continues to deliver as promised for doctors and patients, and no way to easily compare one product to another,” Whitehouse said. “This bill will establish important safeguards to prevent systems from underperforming and will grade them on their performance – changes that will improve market competition and drive innovation."

Cassidy, himself a physician, said the bill's passage would allow doctors more time to help patients.

"As a physician, time is better spent looking into a patient’s eyes to make sure that she comprehends that even though she has cancer, there is hope — as opposed to clicking through a computer screen to document something unimportant to her and required by someone far removed from the exam room,” Cassidy said.

The Health IT Rating System established by the bill would be published on the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s website and would put in place a process by which confidential feedback from health care providers, patients and other users would be gathered and verified. The TRUST IT Act also would enhance the federal certification system for health IT products.

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