With a goal toward improving patient safety and preventing duplicate medical procedures, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) is expected to introduce a bill that will create health record data banks run by private companies that will issue cards to individuals containing all their medical records. Patients would be able to use these portable electronic records anywhere in the country, reports The Wichita Eagle. Brownback says he is also getting support for a healthcare bill that would require online disclosure of the cost of Medicare’s top 30 procedure by state for greater price transparency to consumers.
