They say the proposed identifier system will enable linkage of personally identifiable information across multiple networks, it is based on old technology, and designed to support a nationwide e-health records system that may never be built.
Meanwhile, concerns about the cost of integrating new ID numbers into medical IT systems and the wisdom of excluding health funds -- which now offer members a range of better-health programs -- have emerged in responses to a tight consultation period over the holiday period.
It is proposed that all patients will receive an individual health ID number linked to their Medicare number, which together with the person's name and address, is intended to ensure correct matching of personal information sent across computer systems.
Medicare is understood to have completed development work, but no technical details have been released.
Australia's health ministers have agreed to restrict use of these identity numbers to healthcare purposes, and the draft bill contains penalties including up to two years' jail for misuse or wrongful disclosure of identity information.
Paving the way for early introduction of the legislation into parliament, Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday participated in a demonstration of e-health connectivity at Medicare head office in Canberra, hosted by Mukesh Haikerwal on behalf of the National E-Health Transition Authority.
Ms Roxon said the display "clearly shows how useful tools like e-health records, medications management systems and (secure) clinical messaging will help improve healthcare delivery", particularly when patients are being treated by a range of doctors.
"The first step in creating an e-health system will come into effect mid-year, when unique healthcare identifiers are assigned to all health consumers as well as to medical professionals and organisations," she said.
"The unique identifiers will be available on a secure system operated by Medicare Australia."
But the legislation -- particularly sensitive due to the potential for healthcare identifiers to evolve into a national identity regime -- is unlikely to have an easy passage.
The Australian Privacy Foundation has rejected the draft outright, saying it "fails to take account of significant concerns, despite these having repeatedly (being) drawn to the attention of senior health officials".
"Information about consumers will be available to (around) 600,000 health workers, and the numbers will be stored in several thousand local health service information systems, regardless of their security arrangements," the privacy group said.
"The bill should also mandate provision for consumer access to their own data."
The Australasian College of Health Informatics is concerned that the Council of Australian Governments "is yet to make a decision on a national e-health record implementation".
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Kareen Dearne
Quelle/Source: Australian IT, 19.01.2010
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
