The opt-out trial of MyHealthRecord uncovered a new glitch, with the discovery of records generated for dead people
The opt-out trial of MyHealthRecord uncovered a new glitch, with the discovery of records generated for dead people
The news prompted the RACGP to urge a rethink on forcing GPs to upload a certain number of health summaries or lose an e-health incentive payment.
“For the government to attempt to drive GP use of the MyHealthRecord in this environment with so many issues to be addressed, is likely to be counterproductive,” RACGP President Dr Frank Jones said.
About one million people in the two trial sites of Nepean-Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, and Townsville in north Queensland were sent letters in March advising them they had until late May to opt out of the system.
But relatives complained after letters were addressed to deceased family members, exposing the fact that phantom health records were being created for people who had died or moved away.
In one case as letter was sent to a woman who had died 23 years ago.
The problem occurred because Medicare had no record of the deaths in its data base.
The health department says if a letter is returned as “not known at this address,” an e-health record will not be created for that individual. Otherwise the records will go live in the trial on 1 July.
Despite the nation’s $1 billion investment, only 300 general practices use e-health records on a weekly basis.
