HIPAA is Not
Protecting Patient Health Information
[Posted 02/10/2009]
A study sponsored by Health and Human Services (HHS)
and several healthcare advocacy groups reveals that
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) is not doing enough to protect personal
health information. The study, Beyond the HIPAA
Privacy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health
Through Research, is available from the National
Academies Press.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule was created not only to
safeguard individuals, but also to facilitate the
flow of patient information needed for appropriate
healthcare and health research. The study claims
HIPAA is floundering on all counts, and innovative
regulation is sorely needed.
“HHS and other federal agencies should develop a new
approach to regulation that focuses on best
practices in privacy, security, and transparency”
including ethical oversight of research that uses
patient data.
If new regulation is not possible, the study also
explores steps that could be taken to improve HIPAA,
raise awareness among the people who handle patient
data, and reduce/eliminate security
breaches.
Related Links:
National Academies News Release
The National Academies Press
Institute of Medicine
OHSOnline News Article
Healthfinder News Article
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