House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) is set to introduce what he is calling “common sense legislation” to protect patients using the new health insurance exchanges.
Pitts, along with full committee chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), hit hard on the troubles Healthcare.gov has been having since its October launch, citing some as reasons for the proposed bill.
“The administration’s record of broken promises has given the American people every reason to doubt the security and readiness of the health care law,” Pitts said in a prepared statement announcing the proposed legislation. “The administration knowingly launched a website before final security testing was completed after repeatedly testifying that everything was ‘on track,’ which we now know was not the case. Americans have the right to know if their personal information is jeopardized because of this law.”
Despite that posturing, Pitts called for “strong bipartisan support,” to fast track the legislation.
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The Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act, would require the Department of Health and Human Services to notify individuals of any breach on the health insurance exchanges that endangers personal data and information within 2 business days.
Upton added in the prepared statement that “the administration’s lack of transparency in implementing this law,” triggered concerns about how adequately the federal and state exchanges are securing personal health and financial information.
“The Obama administration should embrace this effort for full disclosure when it comes to security breaches," Upton said. "There is nothing to hide when it comes to protecting Americans’ sensitive, personal information."
Even with the finger-pointing tone Pitts and Upton struck in announcing their legislation, few politicians in either party, healthcare professionals and experts, or everyday Americans are likely to argue that last point.
Which is not to say it’s guaranteed to pass the House vote, expected Friday.
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