Privacy provisions threaten health IT bill

A health information technology bill that would strengthen privacy protections for electronic health records has won the approval of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee. The subcommittee approved the Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment and Easing Communication Through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008. The bill now goes to the full committee, but there were signs that its path might not be as smooth as it was in the subcommittee after several committee members offered amendments to modify privacy protections and other aspects of the bill. The chief sponsor of the bill will meet with the dissatisfied subcommittee members to discuss their concerns and possibly compromise on the sections of the bill they find objectionable.