What’s Next for the Privacy Rule?

HIPAA for all, or something quite like it

CHICAGO, April 2, 2008—The HIPAA privacy rule has existed for six years, but gaps in coverage have widened and many organizations that use and disclose health information have not kept pace with industry developments, according to an article  in the April issue of the Journal of AHIMA. When the privacy rule was written, regulators were not anticipating the development of organizations that have access to patient information such as health information exchanges and personal health record vendors.

Within a single state, health information privacy issues can be scattered throughout multiple chapters of law that often conflict when analyzed. To heighten the problem, these laws are written for a paper-based system and are not applicable to electronic health information.

“What’s Next for the Privacy Rule?” references a report that calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to improve its efforts to protect the privacy and security of health information, especially information in electronic form.

The article also highlights head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Robert Kolodner’s plans to build a harmonized set of principles around key themes: accountability and oversight; limitations on data collection; data integrity and quality; enforcement and remedies for misuse, openness and transparency; security, safeguards and controls; and individual participation and control, access and correction rights. Also listed are recommendations to protect personal health information.

Read the complete article in the April issue of the Journal of AHIMA or online at www.ahima.org.

About AHIMA

AHIMA is the leading professional Association representing more than 51,000 specially educated and certified health information management professionals working throughout the healthcare industry.  HIM professionals serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing, and utilizing data vital for health system management. www.ahima.org