Congress must tackle patient matching amid COVID-19, says Pew Charitable Trusts

Improving patient matching is crucial for effective contact tracing and vaccination programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. The organization has urged Congress to take action, emphasizing that current flaws in patient identification and record matching hinder the nation’s ability to respond to the crisis. Pew recommends the standardization of data elements such as phone numbers and addresses to improve match rates and data quality. It also calls for the use of biometric technology and collaboration with federal agencies to enhance public health efforts.