Minnesota passes bill to amend EHR requirement
Some private practice providers in Minnesota now have the option to opt out of a state requirement to install and implement an EHR system by the beginning of this year.
State lawmakers approved the Minnesota Department of Human Services policy omnibus bill included a provision that would amend the mandate to exempt cash providers and solo practitioners from EHR adoption in the state.
In 2007, Minnesota enacted legislation that requires all healthcare providers in the state to implement a certified EHR system by January 1, 2015, and those systems are required to be interoperable and connect to a state government-approved health information organization.
Minnesota is the only state in the U.S. to require all providers to adopt EHRs. The Citizens' Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), an organization devoted to protecting healthcare choices and patient privacy, crafted the amendment. Twila Brase, CCHF president and co-founder, said the bill would "allow small clinics and practices to continue to serve patients" and "allow single doctor's offices to keep their doors open, rather than be forced to join a big practice."
Citing the "expensive, intrusive" systems, Brase said, "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."
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.