Spending bill continues trend of banning unique patient identifiers.
The American Hospital Association and other industry groups have highlighted the benefits of unique patient identifiers to facilitate data exchange and help providers match transmitted information to the correct patient. However, the fiscal year 2015 budget bill from the Senate Appropriations Committee would continue the tradition of preventing the creation of such an identifier on a national scale, stating none of the funds appropriated to HHS may be used in "providing for, or providing for the assignment of, a unique health identifier for an individual... until legislation is enacted specifically approving the standard."
The main objections to unique patient identifiers have revolved around patient privacy issues. The debate dates to the 1996 passage of HIPAA, the original language of which called for the creation of nationally used patient identifiers. After public outcry and a series of Congressional hearings, the wording was changed to keep federal funds from being used to create such identifiers.
However, patient matching has become a growing issue. Currently, between 8 and 12 percent of the average hospital's electronic health records are duplicates, according to an infographic compiled by M2SYS. As meaningful use stage 2 and the rise of accountable care organizations spur more providers to engage in patient data exchange, hospitals increasingly need a way to reduce record duplication and ensure receipt of reliable patient information.
Providers often have their own internal unique patient identifier (64.8 percent, according to M2SYS) and health information exchange organizations have their own systems for ensuring patient matching. Commonwell Health Alliance, a group of 11 health IT companies focused on fostering data exchange among healthcare stakeholders, has created a standard health ID to help providers better share information.
More articles on data exchange:
25 things to know about hospitals, health systems' investments in IT
Why Apple, Epic and IBM will take over healthcare
Stakeholders continue to blast C-CDA architecture