Health Records Enhancement Act
Health Records Enhancement Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow updates to the health records of deceased veterans. Within one year of enactment, DoD and VA must set up a process so that a health record for a deceased enrollee can be supplemented with observed health conditions and other relevant health information. The update can be made by a person designated by the deceased (for example, someone the veteran named) or, if no designation exists, by an immediate family member. Importantly, these updates are to supplement—not replace or modify—the existing health records. The act also defines who counts as an immediate family member and who is a “deceased enrollee,” including those enrolled in VA’s patient enrollment system or those entitled to TRICARE care. The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representatives Ruiz and Bilirakis and would require DoD and VA to implement procedures for designation and for submitting supplementary health information.
Key Points
- 1Purpose and scope: Requires DoD and VA to allow the supplementation of a deceased veteran’s health records with new health information or observed conditions, without altering existing data.
- 2Deadline: Agencies must implement the necessary actions within one year of enactment.
- 3Who can supplement: An individual designated by the deceased enrollee, or, if none is designated, an immediate family member (as defined in the bill).
- 4Designation process: DoD and VA must jointly provide a process to allow the deceased enrollee to designate someone for supplementation.
- 5Definition and coverage: “Deceased enrollee” includes someone enrolled in VA’s patient enrollment system under 38 U.S.C. 1705(a) or someone entitled to TRICARE care (10 U.S.C. 1072). Immediate family member includes spouse, parent, sibling, adult child, or an adult in loco parentis.