House-Passed Bill Permits
Confidential Reporting of Medical Errors
March 14, 2003 - The House of Representatives March
12 passed (418-6) legislation (H.R.
663) that creates a voluntary and confidential medical
errors reporting system. The system would compile, review,
and analyze the data with the intent of providing evidence-based
information that would help prevent medical errors. Calling
the bill "serious stuff," Energy and Commerce Committee
Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) praised H.R. 663 as a major
step forward in healthcare quality improvement.
The legislation amends the Public Health Service Act and
is not funded by the Medicare Trust Fund. House Budget Committee
Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) had criticized a similar patient
safety bill passed in the Ways and Means Committee (H.R.
877) for using Medicare funds. H.R. 663 includes several
provisions outlined in H.R. 877.
Under H.R. 663, state-licensed/authorized providers could
report data to an HHS-certified "Patient Safety Organization"
(PSO). The legislation grants legal protections for the data,
and it establishes financial penalties for breaches in confidentiality
($10,000/violation) or retaliation against reporters ($20,000/violation).
The bill authorizes $25 million annually in FYs 2004 and
2005 for matching grants to help hospitals and other providers
purchase information technologies that would improve patient
care quality and reduce medical errors. It also establishes
a role for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ) and encourages the development of private-public partnerships
to improve the organization and delivery of healthcare services.
The legislation also addresses the implementation of "product
identification technology" (e.g., barcodes for medical
supplies).
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Affairs Manager
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
Get Washington Highlights
in your Inbox!
| 
