The House passed the 21st Century Cures Act on Friday which would increase federal funding for medical research and changes drug approvals, which included an amendment aimed to improve safety monitoring of medical devices, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Here are five things to know, according to the report:
1. The amendment was brought forward by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, (R., Pa.)
2. Included in the amendment, lawmakers would express "a sense of Congress" that "unique device identifiers" should be included in EHRs, according to The Wall Street Journal.
3. The identifiers would aim to closely track patient harm.
4. The identifiers are not currently incorporated into all EHRs, which Mr. Fitzpatrick's office believes makes it difficult to achieve optimum patient safety.
5. Mr. Fitzpatrick's office has said his action adds pressure to the FDA, who issued a ruling two years ago requiring labels of devices to include identifiers, which would phase in the system over several years, according to the report.
