To amend the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain recognized security practices of covered entities and business associates when making certain determinations, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-7898
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]
Introduced: 2020-07-31 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-31
text: 
This bill authorizes the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to obtain information, assistance, and other support from federal agencies when investigating claims of information blocking by developers of, or entities offering, health information technologies.
 

Information blocking
 refers to a practice that is likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information, such as the imposition of fees that make exchanging this information cost prohibitive.
 

action_date: 2020-12-09
text: 
This bill addresses health information technology provisions concerning cybersecurity practices and information blocking.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may reduce fines and penalties for violations of certain federal privacy standards for health information if an entity subject to those standards has adopted particular cybersecurity practices.
 
This bill also authorizes HHS's Office of the Inspector General to obtain information, assistance, and other support from federal agencies when investigating claims of information blocking by developers of, or entities offering, health information technologies.
 

Information blocking
 refers to a practice that is likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information, such as the imposition of fees that make exchanging this information cost prohibitive.
 

action_date: 2020-12-19
text: 
This bill addresses health information technology provisions concerning cybersecurity practices and information blocking.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may reduce fines and penalties for violations of certain federal privacy standards for health information if an entity subject to those standards has adopted particular cybersecurity practices.
 
This bill also authorizes HHS's Office of the Inspector General to obtain information, assistance, and other support from federal agencies when investigating claims of information blocking by developers of, or entities offering, health information technologies.
 

Information blocking
 refers to a practice that is likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information, such as the imposition of fees that make exchanging this information cost prohibitive.
 

action_date: 2021-01-05
text: 
This bill addresses health information technology provisions concerning cybersecurity practices and information blocking.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may reduce fines and penalties for violations of certain federal privacy standards for health information if an entity subject to those standards has adopted particular cybersecurity practices.
 
This bill also authorizes HHS's Office of the Inspector General to obtain information, assistance, and other support from federal agencies when investigating claims of information blocking by developers of, or entities offering, health information technologies.
 

Information blocking
 refers to a practice that is likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information, such as the imposition of fees that make exchanging this information cost prohibitive.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Became Public Law No: 116-321.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Became Public Law No: 116-321.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2020-12-24
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2020-12-24
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2020-12-20
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-12-19
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7853)
action_date: 2020-12-19
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-12-10
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7088-7089)
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7898.
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7088-7092)
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2020-07-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-07-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-07-31
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 116-321