Electronic Health Information Exchange: Privacy & Security

The following information is reproduced from HHS website:

Privacy and Security and Health Information Technology Electronic health information exchange promises an array of potential benefits for individuals and the U.S. health care system through improved clinical care and reduced cost. At the same time, this environment also poses new challenges and opportunities for protecting individually identifiable health information. In health care, accurate and complete information about individuals is critical to providing high quality, coordinated care. If individuals and other participants in a network lack trust in electronic exchange of information due to perceived or actual risks to individually identifiable health information or the accuracy and completeness of such information, it may affect their willingness to disclose necessary health information and could have life-threatening consequences. Coordinated attention at the Federal and State levels is needed both to develop and implement appropriate privacy and security policies. Only by engaging all stakeholders, particularly consumers, can health information be protected and electronically exchanged in a manner that respects variations in individuals’ views on privacy and access. Privacy and Security Whitepaper Series Consumer Consent Options for Electronic Health Information Exchange: Policy Considerations and Analysis Cover Page and Executive Summary [PDF - 27 KB] Consumer Consent Options — Complete Whitepaper [PDF - 712 KB] Appendix A: State Model Table [PDF - 73 KB] Appendix B: State Law Table [PDF - 62 KB] Appendix C: Other Countries [PDF - 60 KB] Other Resources February 2010: Summary of Selected Federal Laws and Regulations Addressing Confidentiality, Privacy and Security [PDF – 158 KB] December 2008: The Nationwide Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information Health IT and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules State-level Privacy and Security Resources Draft Model Personal Health Record (PHR) Privacy Notice & Facts-At-A-Glance Medical Identity Theft Federal Laws and Regulations HHS announces Privacy and Security Framework and Toolkit

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