[C]reating a unique patient ID number for everyone in the U.S. "would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of electronic medical records, increase overall efficiency and help protect patient privacy."

— Statement by the Rand Corporation published along with a report on the impact of a unique identification number for each patient on the cost of healthcare in the U.S., which Rand calculated that when coupled with the appropriate healthcare information technology infrastructure could mean savings of as much as $77 billion a year, "Rand study claims savings of $77B from unique patient ID."