Nationalized Medical Records on the Internet

~ The End of Privacy ~

Nationalization of medical records is a critical first step to a national health care system.  And if a national health care system isn’t the purpose, then what is? 
 

Background

In 1990, Senator John Glenn, Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee made a request of the GAO to study the potential benefits of automation of medical records and the factors that would inhibit the implementation.  In January of 1991, the GAO presented the results of their study to the Committee[2]: 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 In response to your request of December 4,1990, we are reporting to you the results of our review of automated medical records. The report discusses the potential benefits that automation could make to the quality of patient care and the. factors that impede its use. We are making recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to support automated medical records as part of the Department’s mandate to conduct research on outcomes of health care services.

That paragraph gives the real reason behind the nationalization of medical records so no matter what else is said, the real reason for  nationalized medical records is medical research.  Initially, it was to analyze outcomes, but over time as we’ll see below, they’ve taken the slippery slope towards human medical research allegedly for disease prevention.

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On October 19, 1992, Health and Human Services Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, issued a press release[3] announcing:  

HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced a series of new steps toward creating a nationwide electronic health care information network.  He said major elements of the new system could be in place for Medicare and Medicaid within 15 months, producing significant savings in health costs.

In the new system, health care insurance and billing will be handled by computer networks, eliminating most paperwork.  When fully implemented, Americans would carry a single "health card," similar to bank and credit cards, enabling access to their own  insurance coverage information.  Billing would be performed electronically, and consumers as well as health care providers would no longer have to complete extensive paper forms.

Ultimately, most patient records could also be maintained electronically and accessed with the patient's permission through the card and a PIN (personal identification number).

"My department is taking action today despite the failure of Congress to pass legislation which was submitted earlier this year to establish a nationwide electronic health information system," Dr. Sullivan said.

"It is our intention to act on our own and with the private sector in every area where we have authority to bring the new electronic network into being."

In January of 1993 when Clinton announced the formation of his Task Force on National Health Care Reform[4], the GAO was already in the process of preparing another report for the Chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee.  The report titled, “Automated Medical Records:  Leadership Needed to Expedite Standards Development”[5] was published in April of 1993. 

Excerpts from Executive Order 13335:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to provide leadership for the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology infrastructure to improve the quality and efficiency of health care, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Sec. 2. Policy. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the work of the National Coordinator shall be consistent with a vision of developing a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure that:

(a) Ensures that appropriate information to guide medical decisions is available at the time and place of care;

(d) Promotes a more effective marketplace, greater competition, and increased choice through the wider availability of accurate information on health care costs, quality, and outcomes;

(f) Ensures that patients' individually identifiable health information is secure and protected.  (Ha!)

Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator. (a) The National Coordinator shall, to the extent permitted by law, develop, maintain, and direct the implementation of a strategic plan to guide the nationwide implementation of interoperable health information technology in both the public and private health care sectors that will reduce medical errors, improve quality, and produce greater value for health care expenditures.

(iii) Evaluate evidence on the benefits and costs of interoperable health information technology and assess to whom these benefits and costs accrue;

(v) Not assume or rely upon additional Federal resources or spending to accomplish adoption of interoperable health information technology; and

(b) Within 90 days, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly report on the approaches the Departments could take to work more actively with the private sector to make their health information systems available as an affordable option for providers in rural and medically underserved communities.

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"Last year, the President made the use of health information technology a key principle of his health care agenda. On April 27, 2004, the President signed Executive Order 13335 (EO) announcing his commitment to the promotion of health information technology to lower costs, reduce medical errors, improve quality of care, and provide better information for patients and physicians. In particular, the President called for widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records (EHRs) within 10 years so that health information will follow patients throughout their care in a seamless and secure manner. This means that their medical information is available to the right people at the right time, while remaining protected and secure. The President has tasked HHS with making this vision a reality by 2014. The goal can be met, but there are major challenges to be faced, and the path forward requires a concentrated nationwide effort to achieve widespread adoption of interoperable EHRs."[6] Mike Leavitt, HHS
 

Clearly, the project was already in process beginning in the first Bush Administration.  The only mistake the Clinton Administration seems to have made is that he put a lightening rod in charge of it - namely Hillary Clinton.   But the National Automated Medical Records system was only one piece of a much larger project that would ultimately bring about the transformation of the United States and in fact, the world - but in this writer’s opinion, the transformation is not for the better because the dark side potential far outweighs the good.

George Picks Up the Mantle

"He has served as Telecommunications Policy Counsel for Cisco Systems since 1999.  Before joining Cisco Systems he was General Counsel and Policy Director for the House Republican Conference and served as General Counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee from 1996 to 1999." [7]

If you know how to decode the language, you'll find that most of the Bush Administration proposals for health care have to do with Health Information Systems - not health care per se.   And when actual health care involving doctors is mention, it is rural, community health care but, it appears to this analyst - based on a lot of reading, that these facilities will be experimental pilot programs for telemedicine[8] for the poor - not real health care with real doctors in real doctor's offices. 

2002 - Unveiling the Plan

2002  George Bush's Plan for "Health Security"[9] 

III.    EFFECTIVE SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET AND INCREASE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

"...the President believes that we must also improve access to preventive and primary care for Americans who are not insured. Additionally, many of our nation's uninsured or medically underserved live in rural areas or inner city neighborhoods where there is a shortage of physicians and other health care providers. Strengthening the health care safety net is a necessary part of improving American's access to care, and to helping our health care system focus on preventing disease rather than treating avoidable complications. The President has proposed major initiatives to strengthen the health care safety net."

2002 Health Security Plan FAQ Sheet[10]

The President will back up this agenda with more than $300 billion in proposed funding.
 

Effective Support to Increase Biomedical Research and Strengthen the Health Care Safety Net:

Support for Biomedical Research: The President's budget includes a total of $27.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the final installment of $3.9 billion that will complete the goal the doubling of the NIH budget. This increase will allow NIH will expand its efforts to support research to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases.

2002 - Bush Appoints Elias Zerhouni and Richard Carmonas[12]

Not coincidently, also in 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization legislation was passed by the Congress and signed by George Bush.  Recall that the prescription drug program required seniors to buy a card from health insurers that allegedly gave them discounts but for people who had serious requirements for drugs, there was the infamous "donut hole of non-coverage" - and Medicare was prohibited from negotiating discounts and the CMS lied about how much it would cost.  There was a reason for all of that.  The drug bill wasn't about providing a health benefit to seniors.  It was about the nationalized system of medical records - the drug side of it.   

Health IT - "Federal Drug Benefit Inspires Integration Work"

"The soon-to-arrive Medicare prescription drug benefit has sparked business for systems integrators. A number of companies are working on projects or anticipate new business associated with the Jan. 1, 2006, launch of the program. The program, authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, is intended to reduce seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses for subscription drugs. Integrators are building or expanding systems to handle the drug benefit’s data processing workload."  

CGI-AMS isn't alone in the business uptick. Unisys last month said part of a $90 million contract extension with the New Jersey Department of Human Services will involve supporting the drug benefit, since the project involves the interface of Medicaid and Medicare records.

Other service providers are gearing up for increased activity. Warren Edwards, chief financial officer of Affiliated Computer Services, told investors in a recent conference call that he expects more business to stem from the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. ACS is an outsourcing vendor that specializes in benefits processing.

Infocrossing, another outsourcing vendor, earlier this month announced that its health care subsidiary will expand its Medicare Managed Care Services offering to support the prescription drug benefit.

King said the drug benefit-related business will continue into next year, as CMS pursues additional functionality. "I think once everything gets going in January, probably by the end of March CMS will have a whole slew of additional requirements," King said.  Government Health IT, John Moore, 2005[13]

And under the guise of providing prescription drug coverage for seniors, Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003[14] legislation allowed them to begin the process of redesigning the health care system to enable live fire medical research, "genetically based, personalized medicine, and the segregation of targeted populations for the research:  

"Seniors can choose to stay in traditional Medicare and still get prescription drug coverage. Or, they can choose a new Medicare-approved private plan where the drug benefit is integrated into broader medical coverage, including disease management programs and protections against high out-of-pocket medical spending. Or, seniors who like the lower cost sharing and extra benefits often available in managed care plans would be able to make that choice as well.

Under a modernized Medicare, there will be better coverage for preventive care (e.g., a "welcome to Medicare" physical that would include screening for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as immunizations against pneumonia and the flu).

In October 2003, Bruce Mehlman left government service to become the Executive Director of the Computer Systems Policy Project[15] (CSPP). Excerpt from the Press Release: 

Washington D.C. - October 20, 2003 - The Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP) announced today that Bruce P. Mehlman will become its new executive director effective December 1, 2003. Mehlman will succeed Ken Kay who has served as the executive director of CSPP since its inception in 1989.  Mehlman is currently Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy.

The CSPP is an affiliation of CEOs and chairmen from eight leading U.S. information technology companies including Michael Dell of Dell Inc., Joseph Tucci of EMC Corporation, Carly Fiorina of Hewlett-Packard Company (HP), Samuel J. Palmisano of IBM Corporation, Craig Barrett of Intel Corporation, Chris Galvin of Motorola, Inc., Mark Hurd of NCR Corporation, and Lawrence Weinbach of Unisys Corporation.

As executive director of CSPP, Mehlman will work extensively with the CEOs, chief technical officers and policy staff of CSPP``s member companies to define their vision for information technology public policy in the 21st Century.  He will also continue to lead CSPP``s effective relationship with the Administration and Congress on key public policy priorities including broadband and spectrum, digital rights management, export controls, privacy and trade.  Additionally, he will spearhead a new CSPP initiative on U.S. competitiveness and productivity, which will encourage government policies that support continued innovation, incentives for IT investment, and to improve education and training for American workers.

Ken Kay, while he has been executive director of CSPP, has also served as chairman of Infotech Strategies, the information technology consulting firm he co-founded in 1997. When he departs CSPP on December 31, Kay will open an Infotech Strategies office in Tucson, Arizona and focus on representing companies and associations in the areas of education technology, e-health and e-government.

By 2005, the architecture and systems for nationalized medical records was beginning to be implemented at some clinics like the Mayo Clinic.  Of course there are still barriers to nationalized medical records, health information sharing and internet access.

Federal Health IT System Architecture[19]

2005 White House FAQ Sheet, E-Prescribing and Health IT

President Bush Outlines Health Care Agenda

2002 Nomination of
Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director Of NIH
and Dr. Richard Carmona, Surgeon General[11]

It's my honor to nominate two fine men to head important government institutions, to take important jobs.  My nominee to lead the National Institute of Health is Elias Zerhouni, and my nominee as the next Surgeon General is Richard Carmona.  These are distinguished physicians who have worked tirelessly to save lives, and to improve lives.  They bring exceptional knowledge and skill to these critical jobs.  And they are absolutely dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Americans.

Leading the NIH is a great responsibility, and I have picked the right man to do so.  Dr. Zerhouni and his wife immigrated to America from Algeria with $300 in their pocket, but a dream of opportunity. Today he is the Executive Vice Dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Chairman of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at Johns Hopkins, and a Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering.  He is an expert in biomedical research, and is committed to extending his benefits to all Americans, and all humanity. 

Catapulting the Propaganda - 2004

By now they are beginning to present the real agenda of health care reform which is the nationalized, networked system of medical records. This has nothing to do with health care.  It has everything to do with Health Information Systems. "Virtual Medicine - health care by internet"
 

Which includes the capability to perform medical research on people without their knowledge - especially when you have unqualified providers on the front lines - with the patients. 
 

Top US biologists oppose biodefense boom[16]

And maybe that explains this:

88 Dead Scientists & Microbiologists[17]

Worst Cover Up in the History of the Military

Cleveland Clinic dog and pony show, 2005

2008 "Research America" forum "gaming the system"

"Novelli and Garry Neil, MD, Johnson & Johnson's corporate vice president for science and technology, said advocates should make policymakers aware of the huge "return on investment" from biomedical research.

"Congress is always thinking cost containment ...and we need to figure out how to frame our arguments in cost containment ways," Neil said. "We continue to see health care as a cost center and a cost driver; instead we should be seeing it as a productivity generator, as an engine for growth."

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, agreed, "Investments in biomedical research ... are going to be the drivers of the economy in the next two decades." He said advocates must argue, "This is not an appropriation-this is an investment in our present and in our future." [18]

 EXTRA! EXTRA!  Read All About It -   Medical Records ON THE INTERNET

John Q

Is

YOU!

Medical Record of John Q. Citizen

06/24/2005   Patient Visit

Patient reports being very cranky nearly all the time.  He says he's become a PITA to be around because he has a PITA.  Examination reveals a giant, red swollen hemorrhoid near the anal opening.  Recommend surgery to remove hemorrhoid.  

Posterior View

Click Here to See
The Hemorrhoid

There are just some things in life you don't want to see - and you sure as hell don't want to share.

In August of 2006, George Bush signed Executive Order 13410[20] calling for "a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure"

In 2007, Senator Ron Wyden introduced legislation for the next phase of "health care reform".  The legislation was titled, "Healthy Americans Act".  In 2008, Wyden issued a press release saying that the plan would be revenue neutral in 2014 and would produce surpluses thereafter.  (Note:  it will only produce surpluses if they commit medical genocide).

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In 2007, at the National Governor's Conference, the plan was presented to the Governors by Ginny Wagner of IBM and Dr. Douglas Woods of the Mayo Clinic.

In 2008, a lobbying group called "Research America" held a forum to "game" the ideas of what should be done to the health care system in the next decade or so.  This forum begins to address the issue of using the American population (their networked medical records) for medical research. 

Also in 2008, Republican Party Suck Up Governor Butch Otter proposed and the Idaho State Legislature approved legislation authorizing a health information exchange with internet access to medical records and the 'Idaho Health Data Exchange' was born.  The HDE is a non-profit corporation.  

When I found out about the Idaho HDE, I contacted them immediately to find out how to opt out.  The form was sent to me by email:

Idaho Health Data Exchange Opt Out Form

The way the instructions read, it sounds as if health care providers will automatically send your medical record information to the IHDE.  When I read that, I took the opportunity to question the IHDE further. 

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It sounds as if you will receive the medical records of patients by default unless they opt out. Is this correct? If it is correct, what if any information are the patients being given regarding Idaho Health Data Exchange prior to their private medical information being released to you.  I have hospital records at both hospitals in Boise. Have they - or do they plan to give those records to your organization? Perhaps a better question would be - are you collecting past medical records from your "partners" (i.e. the hospitals).

Response from IHDE:

Vicky, your medical information will be available to be exchanged with your authorized caregivers just as it is today unless you choose to opt-out. Once the Idaho Health Data Exchange is up and running you will be given information at the point of care about the exchange and your option to opt-out of participation. You can also visit our website at www.IdahoHDE.org to learn more about the benefits of participation. Again I want to emphasize that your personal medical information is already being exchanged today by means of electronic and paper delivery between your authorized caregivers (i.e. hospitals, physicians, labs, radiology, etc.).

You remain in control of your personal medical information through the exchange both past and present by having the choice to opt-out. You can complete the Opt-Out form provided in the previous e-mail and return it to the address provided for processing.

If you have further questions or concerns I would welcome the opportunity to talk to you in person.

This is a rather misleading response.  Yes, medical providers do communicate with each other - but it is a direct communication.  One doctor orders a test or a procedure.  When complete, the other doctor sends the results back to the ordering physician.  There is no intermediary, private corporation collecting a medical record to be shared with the world - and especially, it is not available on the Internet (or it better not be).

SCORECARD FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is keeping the scorecard of progress towards implementation of the nationalized medical records system.  You might want to check and see what your state legislature is doing about it:

2007 State Legislation on Electronic Health Records and Personal Health Records

2009  Obama  -  Health Care - Next Step: 
 

OBAMA HEALTH PLAN POSES DANGER TO AMERICAN FREEDOMS

Refer back, October 19, 1992, Louis Sullivan Press Release

[1] Federal Register  / Vol. 69. No. 84/Friday, April 30, 2004, pg 24059-24061, Executive Order 13335--Incentives for the use of Health Information Technology and Establishing the Position of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator 
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-10024.pdf

Vicky Davis
July 8, 2008  -  Updated January 13, 2009

Related:

 
The HAPI Plan for Mandatory Wellness
IT Systems and Medical Research
IBM and Dr. Mengele - Together Again