The Minnesota Senate and House have passed an omnibus bill focused on healthcare reform issues, including an amendment that exempts solo private practice practitioners and cash providers from EHR systems, according to a Citizen's Council for Health Freedom report.
"Minnesota is the only state that, until now, did not allow health care providers to opt out of expensive, intrusive online-accessible EHRs. The federal HITECH Act mandates EHRs, but allows any provider to opt out. This amendment begins to give Minnesota the level of freedom and privacy available to doctors and patients in the rest of the nation," said CCHF president and co-founder Twila Brase.
Beginning in January, 2015, providers must comply with the state's EHR mandate.