6/16/08: Congress has been considering early versions of a comprehensive piece of legislation to move the health care industry toward a system of electronic recordkeeping and information sharing, known as health information technology (IT). While the goal of establishing health IT policies and standards to establish electronic medical records and information exchange could prove useful down the road, NTEU has concerns about its immediate impact on the cost to FEHBP enrollees.

Click here, Kelley Letter, to review a copy of the letter NTEU National President Colleen Kelley sent to Chairman Danny Davis of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, with copies to Chairman Henry Waxman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Frank Pallone, of the Health Subcommittee. President Kelley urged that legislative language be included to ensure that the cost of complying with new IT standards not be passed on to enrollees and that safeguards be drafted to ensure privacy of electronic records in the federal program.

NTEU has testified in the past on the importance of cost and privacy to our federal employees and retirees. The union will continue to remain vigilant regarding these concerns.