Says federal government cannot assure citizens that privacy rights are protected

Press Releases • July 30, 2003

Personal data may not be adequately protected from collection, use and disclosure, according to a stinging report released today by the General Accounting Office. In a survey of 25 federal agencies, and through a GAO forum for federal privacy officers, the GAO found a significant lack of compliance with the federal Privacy Act of 1974.

CCHC Provides Online Comparison of Patient Safety Bills in Congress

Press Releases • July 24, 2003

To show how the patient safety bills promote such a system, CCHC has placed online a comparison of the sections of the two bills (H 663 and S 720) that promote building of a national health data system. The comparison was done before S 720 was amended significantly yesterday in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Patient Safety Bills in Congress: More Surveillance; Less Care?

Press Releases • July 23, 2003

Comparison of Patient Safety Bills (H 663 and S 720) The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act - 2003

PATIENT SAFETY BILLS: More surveillance; less care (Correction)

Press Releases • July 22, 2003

The legislation being considered in a congressional committee tomorrow is aimed less at medical errors and more at building a national health surveillance system, according to the Citizens' Council on Health Care.

PATIENT SAFETY BILLS: More surveillance; less care

Press Releases • July 22, 2003

"This is less about safety and more about surveillance. This initiative is just one unfortunate consequence of the so-called medical privacy rule. Now that the rule is in effect, some members of Congress feel free to let medical records be shared without patient consent," says Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care.

Patients are Answer to Medicare's Overspending Problems

Press Releases • July 15, 2003

With Medicare consistently losing tens of millions of dollars each month through improper payments, senior citizens need to be fully engaged in treatment and financial decisions, says Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care.

Senate's Medicare Drug Plan will Limit Senior's Choice of Medication

Press Releases • June 12, 2003

This is drug coverage by committee. A bureaucratic process will determine which drugs are available and who gets them. Not every medication will be covered, covered medications can be denied, and private drug coverage may no longer be available," says Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care.

CCHC Highlights Impact of Efforts at 2003 Legislative Session

Press Releases • June 02, 2003

We are very pleased that our efforts put the state's plan to collect health data on hold. However, because the health department can still obtain private medical records by law, this battle is not over.

MN Business Leaders Support State-Imposed Health Care Rationing

Press Releases • May 15, 2003

The public policy group representing 100 CEOs in Minnesota testified today in support of state-imposed rationing of health care services. The rationing-driven Oregon Health Plan is a DFL Senate initiative that is under discussion for inclusion in the final Health and Human Services Omnibus bill.

Minnesota Conference Committee Considers Oregon's Health Plan for Medicaid Patients

Press Releases • May 14, 2003

The conference committee of the Minnesota Health and Human Services Omnibus bill will soon consider explicit rationing of health care for recipients of Medicaid, MinnesotaCare and General Assistance Medical Care.