Here’s why healthcare should be talking about net neutrality

When we hear about net neutrality, we often think of how it will affect and raise costs when we stream our favorite podcast, or download a movie.  But this issue has the potential to significantly impact the “ease” of access to our medical files and other medical related information.  According to a recent Modern Healthcare article, “Net neutrality means everyone sending data is treated the same by carriers like Verizon and others; no one can pay or be charged more for faster transmission speeds and none can be barred from sending data. The tool that net neutrality advocates want to use—Title II of the FCC’s authorization act—would essentially make internet traffic into a public utility.”  If this does not continue, the cost for accessing and transferring medical files and other electronic data could increase substantially.  For a current and clear explanation on net neutrality, read the attached article from Modern Healthcare by Darius Tahir  | November 19, 2014.