There are many legislative initiatives currently being debated at the State and Federal level that will have a direct impact on health information professionals. NYHIMA's Legislative Committee is actively monotoring these proposals, bills and amendments to insure that our input and perspectives are heard and considered by the decision makers. KEY BILLS IN CONGRESS S.1824 Hospital Quality Report Card Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.1814 Health Information Privacy & Security Act of 2007 - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.1693 Wired for Health Care Quality Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.1687 Global Pathogen Surveillance Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.1456 The Federal Employee Personal Health Records Act - (NYHIMA Supports) S.1455 National Health Information Technology & Privacy Advancement Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.1451 Quality Reform Expansion & Savings Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.1408 Health Information Technology Act of 2007 - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.976 Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) S.628 The Critical Access to Health Information Technology Act - (NYHIMA Supports) S.605 Allied Health Reinvestment Act - (NYHIMA Supports) S.358 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act - (NYHIMA Supports) H.R.6179 Rep. Camp Introduces Health IT Bill Providing for a Path to ICD-10 - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.5442 Rep. Markey Introduces the "Technologies for Users' Security and Trust Act" - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.4105 The Medicare RAC Moratorium Act - (NYHIMA Supports) H.R.3800 Promoting Health Informtion Technology Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.3668 The TMA, Abstinence Education and QI Programs Extension Act - (NYHIMA Supports) H.R.2991 Independent Health Record Trust Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.2406 Rep. Bart Gordon Introduces NIST HIT Bill - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.2043 The Medicaid Access Project through Health IT Act (MAP-IT) - (NYHIMA Supports) H.R.1952 National Health Information Infrastructure Incentive Act - (NYHIMA Supports) H.R.1601 Telehealth & Medically Underserved Advancement Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.1467 The 10,000 Trained by 2010 Act - (NYHIMA Supports) H.R.1368 The Personalized Health Information Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.1046 Medicare QIO Modernization Act - (NYHIMA monitoring) H.R.493 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (NYHIMA Supports) NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE BILLS A.3790 Requires health care providers to disclose errors -(NYHIMA Supports) A.6722 Authorizes use of electronic medical records systems when dispensing certain controlled substances - (NYHIMA Supports) A.6825 Relates to testing for HIV without written informed consent - (NYHIMA Opposes) A.6993 Creates the family health care decision act - (NYHIMA Supports) A.7074 Authorizes nurse practitioners to sign death certificates - (NYHIMA Supports) A.9354 Amends the public health law and social services law in relation to establishing mental health parity in public health insurance plans - (NYHIMA Supports) S.3974 Defines a patient in need of surrogate decision-making to include a patient case managed by OMRDD - (Signed by Governor, 7/18/07) S.4001 In the absence of consent from a named patient, clinical records may only be obtained when a medical review board is investigating possible gross deficiencies of care - (NYHIMA Supports) S.4158 Requires health insurers to provide coverage of annual MRI scans to women 30 yrs or older who have high breast cancer risk - (NYHIMA Supports) NYHIMA stongly encourages its members and other interested parties to contact their respective elected officials to reinforce our shared position on these important issues. The following links provide information about how to research current, ongoing legislation, and how to contact your elected officials and representatives: Click here to research current Federal bills Click here to research current New York State bills Contact Governor David Paterson Contact Senator Charles Schumer Contact Senator Hillary Clinton Contact Your New York State Assemblyman Contact Your New York State Senator