56 healthcare industry groups and large provider organizations are urging the Senate to lift the 20-year ban on the Department of Health and Human Services funding the development or adoption of a unique, national patient ID. Congress has banned such funding, citing privacy concerns raised by use of a national ID. Some privacy advocates, however, vehemently oppose any developments that might lead to a unique national patient identifier. The full Senate appropriations committee was slated to discuss a markup on Tuesday, but that hearing was pushed to Thursday and then yet again postponed.”]
Source: https://www.careersinfosecurity.com/national-patient-id-debate-intensifies-a-13084