Kentucky government to compile citizens' health records

Not any more...

Looks like Big Brother is finally coming to the Bluegrass State. Governor Steve Beshear announced last week that state government would begin compiling the health records of all Kentuckians in a central computer data base. What could possibly go wrong?

To coincide with the Obama administration’s plan to implement a system of health information technology (HIT), Gov. Beshear has created the Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), to serve as single point of contact on Kentucky’s health information technology efforts

 

In anticipation of congressional action on proposals to establish a national health care system, Obama’s administration is calling for universal adoption of electronic health records by 2014. To access stimulus funds to support HIT, states are being forced to have the technology and other infrastructure in place to support electronic health records (EHR) and HIT. “President Obama has made health care reform one of his top priorities, and health information exchange is a cornerstone of a national goal to improve health care quality,” Gov. Beshear said. “Many of our health care providers practice independently or in small groups and are located in rural areas. Our challenge is to bring together Kentucky’s stakeholders to assure that the development and use of health information exchange meets federally defined standards for privacy and security and to assure stakeholders that health information exchange is interoperable, sustainable and dependable.”

 

Those “stakeholders” include the state’s three regional health information organizations (RHIOs), hospitals, physicians, heath care practitioners and other providers, consumers, private insurance companies, and all others who participate in the exchange of health information. In other words, the state will control access to the medical records of every man, woman, and child in the Commonwealth.

The Kentucky E-Health Network Board (EHNB), which is administratively attached to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, will also serve as an integral resource to the Office as it moves forward. The EHNB will compile a central database of all physician, hospital, pharmacy and medical insurance records, and will control access to this database. As yet, the EHNB will have no authority over distribution of medical services, or eligibility determination. Nothing in the Governor’s proposal empowers the EHNB to limit end-of-life health care services.

“The Governor’s action will allow the Commonwealth to be in a position to apply for federal stimulus funds for planning and implementation of health information exchange to support infrastructure and build resource capacity, particularly for underserved communities, said CHFS Secretary Janie Miller. “Initially, the office will be created by assigning existing resources within the Cabinet. Once efforts are underway it is expected that all states will receive federal stimulus dollars to expand our activities to fully plan and implement health information technology.”

 

“Kentucky has established a strong vision for the future of e-health in our state. The new Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information can effectively take that vision to reality,” Gov. Beshear said. “We will respond quickly to opportunities that will afford our important health industry to take full advantage of incentive funds available under ARRA.”

Naturally, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Kentucky E-Health Network Board, will limit access to the confidential information in this database; just as the FBI and the IRS closely guard their databases.  After all, these files will contain detailed information about the health of each Kentuckian; along with everything a citizen tells his physician or psychiatrist, and everything the doctor tells his patients.

Of course, no politician has ever used FBI or IRS files for a nefarious purpose. And government computers are secure enough to thwart any hackers who might want to do a little prospecting in this goldmine of information. What could possibly go wrong?