Here two spine surgeons weigh in on the laws and legislation that have had the biggest impact of healthcare in the last 10 years.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
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Question: Other than the PPACA, what piece of legislation in the last decade has had the biggest impact on healthcare?
Purnendu Gupta, MD, Spine Surgeon, NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute, Evanston, Ill.: The enhanced HIPAA rule that better protects patient privacy and secures health information has had a great impact on the delivery of healthcare. A lot has changed since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 took effect, especially as the digital age has evolved. The HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules of 2003 set the tone for the final rulemaking on consumer health data in 2013.
Patients now can ask for a copy of their electronic medical record in an electronic form, and that means better communication with patients. But it has also posed some challenges. Some patients misunderstand the terminology in those reports, which leads to confusion.
EMRs and the final HIPAA rule have certainly created a layer of complexity to the delivery process, but overall it has been good because it gives patients more access to their medical records. And with patient consent, it also enables physicians to access their medical information more quickly.
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I think the Stark laws and Sunshine Act have both forever altered the face of medicine. These laws, I think, were well thought out. Their implementation has been draconian but in their spirit, they are good. It has resulted in a bit of a witch hunt of sorts, but we as physicians have to acknowledge there were a lot of serious improprieties going on that needed to be stopped.