Open AccessProtecting Patients In Health Information Exchange: A Defense Of The HIPAA Privacy Rule
Author(s) -
Clement J. McDonald
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
health affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.837
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 2694-233X
pISSN - 0278-2715
DOI - 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.447
Subject(s) - health insurance portability and accountability act , protected health information , business , health information exchange , health care , internet privacy , accountability , software portability , information privacy , privacy policy , information exchange , health information , confidentiality , medical emergency , computer security , medicine , health policy , hrhis , computer science , political science , law , telecommunications , programming language
Regional health information organizations (RHIOs) rapidly integrate and deliver patient information to clinicians from multiple independent care organizations. By providing such information, they can reduce health care costs and improve safety. Special concerns about privacy arise as these regional systems connect nationally. We should add special barriers beyond the protections of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect against surprises at the national level. At the local level, we should remain within the HIPAA rules because the application of additional barriers to RHIO access would interfere with efficient and safe care.