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State Representative Ryan Winkler
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7026
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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REP. WINKLER INTRODUCES BILL TO GIVE CONSUMERS CONTROL OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS
ST. PAUL Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL Golden Valley) has introduced a bill this session (HF1588) that would establish a pilot project to provide consumer-owned electronic personal health records to all participants of the state employee group insurance program which includes all state employees. This pilot project would demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the program statewide for all Minnesotans.
"By giving Minnesotans control of their personal electronic health records, Minnesota can control its health care costs, improve health care quality, enhance health care safety, and engage consumers," said Rep. Ryan Winkler. "This initiative will also make health care records more efficient and easily transferable between health care providers."
According to Winkler, personal e-Health Records would control health care costs by:
· Serving as one point of care access to all of a consumer's health information
· Improving self-management of chronic illness
· Facilitating online communication with health care providers to reduce unnecessary visits
· Increasing availability of transparent health care costs and outcomes
· Promoting broader use of less expensive direct purchasing of health services
"This initiative has the potential to significantly transform the health care system," said Winkler. "By providing consumers access to their personal records, they will be more informed, more engaged in the process, and more likely take responsibility for controlling their own health care costs."
Winkler argues that by acting on this initiative now, Minnesota can yield the potential to lead the nation in significant health care reform, increase consumer access to information, and lower health care costs statewide.
"At a time when health care costs are skyrocketing, this legislation carries the potential to stabilize the health care industry in Minnesota by making Minnesotans shrewd and informed consumers," said Winkler. "Increased access to information is the catalyst for a good economy and a more efficient health care system. This will put Minnesota on the cutting edge of health care reform."
News Items
- Statement on Budget Forecast - (Posted: 2012-12-05 00:00:00)
- Statement on Final I-35 W Bridge Settlement - (Posted: 2012-11-13 00:00:00)
- Rep. Winkler: Tea Party Activists Cant Be Trusted to Reform Our Elections - (Posted: 2012-11-01 00:00:00)
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