MN Senate and House Pass Bill with EHR Amendment That Will Free Some Doctors From Intrusive and Expensive EHR Systems

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF, http://www.cchfreedom.org), a Minnesota-based national organization dedicated to preserving patient-centered health care and protecting patient and privacy rights, is applauding Minnesota lawmakers, as both the Senate and House have passed a bill that will free some doctors from costly and intrusive Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services policy omnibus bill contains several matters of health reform, including an amendment that exempts solo practitioners in private practice and cash providers from EHR systems. Starting January 2015, providers must comply with the state’s electronic health records mandate.

“We’re pleased that lawmakers have included this important amendment in Rep. Tara Mack’s bill that will allow small clinics and practices to continue to serve patients in Minnesota,” said CCHF president and co-founder Twila Brase. “Many small clinics and practices cannot afford the cost of the EHR system, and many practices do not want to make their patients’ data accessible online.

“This amended bill will allow small clinics to thrive in smaller communities,” she continued. “And it will allow single doctor’s offices to keep their doors open, rather than be forced to join a big practice. Patients would be able to search for practitioners who hold their medical data truly confidential and for doctors that look them in the eye rather than turning their back on them and typing into a computer.

“Minnesota is the only state that, until now, did not allow health care providers to opt out of expensive, intrusive online-accessible EHRs. The federal HITECH Act mandates EHRs, but allows any provider to opt out. This amendment begins to give Minnesota the level of freedom and privacy available to doctors and patients in the rest of the nation.”

Earlier this week, the State Senate also passed the bill, which contained an amendment supported by CCHF. The patient freedom advocate organization, however, had suggested that small practices with seven or fewer practitioners be exempted, rather than those with just one.

For more information about CCHF, visit its web site at http://www.cchfreedom.org, its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cchfreedom or its Twitter feed, @CCHFreedom.

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom is a patient-centered national health freedom organization based in St. Paul, Minn., that exists to protect health care choices and patient privacy. CCHF sponsors the daily, 60-second radio feature, Health Freedom Minute, which airs on approximately 350 stations nationwide, including 200 on the American Family Radio Network and 100 on the Bott Radio Network. Listeners can learn more about the agenda behind health care initiatives and steps they can take to protect their health care choices, rights and privacy.

CCHF president and co-founder Twila Brase, R.N., has been called one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Health Care” and one of “Minnesota’s 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders.” A public health nurse, Brase has been interviewed by CNN, Fox News, Minnesota Public Radio, NBC Nightly News, NBC’s Today Show, NPR, New York Public Radio, the Associated Press, Modern Healthcare, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Washington Times, among others. She is at the forefront of informing the public of crucial health issues, such as intrusive wellness and prevention initiatives in Obamacare, patient privacy, informed consent, the dangers of “evidence-based medicine” and the implications of state and federal health care reform.