Bill would link VIIS and VDH databases

17 February 2012

A bill that would allow linkages between the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) and other health records databases managed by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has received strong support from legislators. The bill, HB 829, was introduced by freshman Del. Peter Farrell (R-56th, Henrico) and is supported by the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV).

This week the bill was heard by the Senate Education and Health Committee following a 99-1 vote by the House of Delegates. Sen. Ralph Northam, M.D. (D-6th, Norfolk), a pediatric neurologist, praised the bill for increasing the ability for physicians to get the information they need about their patients. The committee went on to endorse the bill unanimously.

Under the bill, the commissioner of health may authorize the linkages between VIIS and VDH databases. Any information sharing between the systems would still be subject to all state and federal privacy laws. It is expected that linking the VIIS and other systems will result in better information sharing about newborn screening results. Physicians and other health care providers authorized to use VIIS may view their patients’ health records.

At the 2011 annual meeting, the MSV House of Delegates adopted a resolution expressing MSV’s support for legislation that would link the reporting systems for newborn hearing and blood-spot screenings with the VIIS in one web-based portal.