I read TFA and the author completely misses the issue
The author didn't miss the issue. The issue was whether an employer can get patient data from hospitals all over the country for their employees. The technology is there, that's what HL2 does; I've worked on a few similar systems - it's a hassle but it can be done (although Imaging seems to be a bigger hassle). As the author points out, the real problem is getting that HL7 feed turned on. The NFL has enough money and clout to make it happen.
You bring up the unrelated issue of whether the federal government should be collecting all of that patient data. Congress could pass a law requiring it, but they won't for the reasons you list.