Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for the recognition. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7898, once again, to clarify the enforcement and investigative authorities of the inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services with respect to health record information blocking. In 2016, as has been stated, Congress passed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act with the goal of closing the gap between innovation and our Nation's regulatory process. Throughout the drafting of Cures, I made it a priority to address important health information technology issues, including interoperability and the prevention of information blocking. I am a physician, but I am also a patient, and I am acutely aware of the frustrations surrounding the difficulty of a patient accessing their medical records. Patients should control their own medical data. Yet, if a patient and their doctor have difficulty in accessing electronic health records, the patient's care may suffer. In the Cures bill, Congress provided the tools necessary for doctors and patients to better coordinate their care through the sharing of patient data. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology promulgated a rule that outlines what is permissible. This rule, which was finalized this past May, aims to allow patients to seamlessly access their electronic health information. This bill, H.R.…”