WPF advises HHS regarding proposed changes to standards for privacy under HIPAA

WPF provided detailed comments to the US Department of Health and Human Services regarding its proposal for changes to HIPAA regarding modifications to the Privacy Rule. Specifically, HHS proposed modifications to standards for the privacy of individually identifiable health information. WPF supports many of the changes proposed in the NPRM. In the NPRM’s overview, HHS stated:

“If individuals believe that their Protected Health Information (PHI) may be disclosed without their knowledge or consent to initiate criminal, civil, or administrative investigations or proceedings against them or others based primarily upon their receipt of lawful reproductive health care, they are likely to be less open, honest, or forthcoming about their symptoms and medical history.”

WPF agrees with this statement regarding the chilling effects that medical mistrust can have on all patients and their health outcomes, particularly for those in vulnerable communities that have been impacted by historic and ongoing health disparities.

Related Documents:

Comments of WPF Regarding HHS NPRM proposing modifications to the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule), RIN Number 0945-AA20 (PDF, 11 pages)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) amending the HIPAA Privacy Rule to modify the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). 88 Federal Register 23506 (April 17, 2023) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/17/2023-07517/hipaa-privacy-rule-to-support-reproductive-health-care-privacy

Posted June 28, 2023 in Digital Health Ecosystems, Electronic Health Records, Health Privacy, HIPAA, Patient Privacy

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WPF advises HHS regarding proposed changes to standards for privacy under HIPAA

Related Documents:

Comments of WPF Regarding HHS NPRM proposing modifications to the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule), RIN Number 0945-AA20 (PDF, 11 pages)