A key congressional committee earlier this month signaled that it may finally be time let the Department of Health and Human Services get involved in the conversation about a national patient identification system.

The House Labor Appropriations Committee, in a report that accompanied Labor-HHS spending bill, acknowledged that the “lack of a consistent patient data matching strategy” stands as “one of the most significant challenges inhibiting the safe and secure electronic exchange of health information.” While the committee carried forward legislative language (section 510) prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services from spending funds to promulgate a rule on patient identification, it did clarify that HHS could work with the private sector on potential solutions (page 108 of the report): “Accordingly, the Committee encourages the Secretary, acting through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and CMS, to provide technical assistance to private-sector led initiatives to develop a coordinated national strategy that will promote patient safety by accurately identifying patients to their health information.”

This represents a big step forward on the policy front. CHIME will continue to educate members of Congress and the administration on the importance of a national solution for patient identification.

In other challenge news, the deadline to register for the Final Innovation Round is fast approach (August 1), so be sure to spread the word to others who may be interested in helping us improve the nation’s healthcare system!