Legal Research

A Unique Health ID Number for All

A blog on the LA Times website reports on a RAND study (summary, full report) that estimated an $11 billion cost to provide every American with their own unique health ID number with a resultant $77 billion savings in increased efficiency and reduced errors.

The two different ways of connecting an individual with his health record are a unique patient identifier (UPI) system or a multiple personal attributes system – using name, address, birth date, and social security number. The use of a UPI was mandated by Congress way back in 1996 in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) but not much progress has been made in that direction. The Rand study found that the use of multiple personal attributes is more likely than the UPI to lead to errors, repetitive tests, and unnecessary care. Patient privacy is better protected by using the UPI rather than the other identifying system. Plus, a hacker accessing a patient’s UPI would not have access to that patient’s social security number and other personal information. This would help prevent identity theft. The Rand study concludes by recommending that Congress remove the constraints on the Department of Health and Human Services with regard to the UPI because they believe that this system should be in place before the national health information network is fully developed.

Full post as published by Jenkins Webblits on October 28, 2008 (boomark / email).