Packed press conference to protect medical record privacy & patient control!

On July 1, 2009, Minnesota medical records will become state government property. Detailed data from each patient's confidential medical appointments ("encounter data") will be sent to an electronic data warehouse in the State of Maine where they will be available to state government officials.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano) and Senator David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) have bills to stop this data grab. Rep. Emmer started his March 19 press conference on HF 1715 surrounded by 30+ citizens who responded to CCHC's call. Another 20 or so citizen supporters remained in the audience with the news media. There were three TV news cameras, one videographer, and four news reporters, including Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).

Below: Rep. Emmer at the podium just before the press conference began,
Rep. Holberg in white, Reps. Tim Sanders (hidden by Holberg( and Steve
Gottwalt in the back, and citizens young and old standing in support.

Senator David Hann (R-Eden Prairie), author of SF 1718, and Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville), co-author of HF 1715 also spoke. Other legislators there include Republican co-authors Reps. Peggy Scott, Tim Sanders, and Steve Gottwalt, (from Andover, Blaine and St. Cloud respectively)

Twila Brase, president of CCHC, spoke as well along with two citizen CCHC supporters (Maggy Kottman and Don Koehler).

HF 1715 and its companion, SF 1718, would repeal the 2008 health department "encounter data" language that allows health officials, without patient consent, to take, own and use private medical records from every patient's encounter with a physician or clinic or hospital.




Patient "encounter data" is scheduled to be regularly sent to a data warehouse in the State of Maine starting July 1, 2009, at a cost of $1.2 million. At an additional cost of over $3 million, the department will access and use patient data to rank doctors according to government criteria ("report cards")...and then to make it financially more difficult for you to see the doctor of your choice and to receive the individualized care that you need.

Contact Info

While the legislature is in session and before the data transfer and analysis begins in July 2009, please take the opportunity to contact the Governor and your legislators:

Governor Tim Pawlenty:

tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

; 651-296-3391; 1-800-657-3717

State Representative:

rep.firstname.lastname@house.mn

State Senator:

sen.firstname.lastname@senate.mn

House Information: 651-296-2146

Senate Information: 651-296-0504