WEB
EXTRA!
WEB EXTRA! Supreme Court
decision bars states from regulating HMO coverage The AAFP joined more than 100 health organizations recently in urging U.S. Senate support for S. 720, the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act. The letter, drafted by the AMA and signed by 115 organizations, was sent to all 100 U.S. senators.
The legislation would amend Title IX of the Public Health Service Act to enable physicians and other health care providers to report patient safety data without fear of legal repercussions.
"Currently, there is a disincentive for physicians and other health care professionals to engage in a reporting system because of fear of litigation," the health organizations said in the letter.
S. 720 defines patient safety data as information collected by a provider for reports to and use by patient safety organizations. Such information, the bill says, will be privileged and confidential. Moreover, for example, it will not be:
In their letter of support, the health organizations said the legislation could create a system for sharing and analyzing information on medical errors to prevent incidents from recurring.
"This voluntary reporting system enables physicians, hospitals and other health care providers to report information on errors to patient safety organizations that would confidentially collect and analyze the information," the June 18 letter said. "The PSO would also provide patient safety improvement strategies based on the data."
A similar bill, H.R. 663, passed the House of Representatives last year by a 418-6 vote.
To reach writer J. Michael Brodie, e-mail mbrodie@aafp.org.
FP Report is published by the AAFP
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Copyright © 2004 by American Academy of Family Physicians.