08/26/2010
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it is partnering with the Indiana Health Information Exchange to launch a data exchange pilot program for veterans seeking health care treatment. The program is designed to test the framework of the Nationwide Health Information Network and to advance development of VA's Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record. Indianapolis Star et al.
08/23/2010
A bill in the Illinois Legislature aims to reinstate full public access to a database that provided legal profiles of state physicians, which was removed in February. Meanwhile, a laptop with medical data on Chicago-area patients has been stolen from a hospital. Chicago Tribune et al.
08/23/2010
The Health IT Policy Committee recently approved a set of recommendations governing how health care providers should share patient data through health information exchanges. However, some panel members raised concerns about whether physicians should be required to offer alternatives to patients who opt out of health information exchange networks. Government Health IT et al.
08/23/2010
The Obama administration is working to enhance patient privacy guidelines after criticism emerged that the proposed rules failed to adequately protect patient data. The issue of patient safety is becoming more widespread as health care providers turn to health IT tools. New York Times.
08/19/2010
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies has joined a lawsuit seeking to exempt doctors from the Federal Trade Commission's "Red Flags" rule, which aims to curb identity theft. FTC has delayed enforcement of the rule several times. HealthLeaders Media, Modern Healthcare.
08/18/2010
During its meeting on Monday, the privacy and security "Tiger Team" clarified when health information exchanges should seek patient consent. The group included the guidance in a 19-page letter detailing several privacy and security recommendations. Government Health IT.
08/17/2010
A Senate bill introduced recently includes strict data breach notification requirements that are similar to data protections in the HITECH Act. Health care entities that comply with the HITECH provisions would be exempt from the proposed legislation. HealthLeaders Media.
08/16/2010
Roger Baker, CIO of the Department of Veterans Affairs, announced that VA will start posting online its reports to Congress on data and security breaches. The number of total security breaches at VA declined from June to July. Government Health IT, InformationWeek.
08/13/2010
More than 100 entities that have reported data breaches affecting at least 500 individuals could pay about $834 million in total costs to address the violations, according to a new report. Since September of last year, there have been 130 reported security breaches involving patient data. HealthLeaders Media.
08/12/2010
The new system will allow physicians and pharmacists to review an online database containing data on patients' previous prescriptions for painkillers. State authorities plan to randomly check the system to ensure that the information is not being misused. Boston Globe.
08/09/2010
The growth in social media has led health care facilities to set rules for how staff can work with the technology. Many hospitals already have faced numerous issues as they incorporate social media into their marketing plans. Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Business Journal.
08/05/2010
This week, the privacy and security "Tiger Team" met to discuss how to give patients control of sensitive data contained in their electronic health records. Members suggested that health care providers should discuss EHR privacy concerns with patients. Government Health IT, Modern Healthcare.
08/02/2010
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers recently released a report aimed at keeping track of 56 state-run and federally funded health IT projects and health information exchanges. Government Technology, Modern Healthcare.
07/30/2010
HHS has withdrawn from administrative review a proposed version of its final rule outlining notification guidelines for health data breaches. The interim final rule issued last year remains in effect, according to HHS. Modern Healthcare, AHA News.
07/23/2010
The Health IT Policy Committee recently heard recommendations by the privacy and security "Tiger Team" regarding how much control patients should have over their electronically stored health data. The team could not reach an agreement on whether patients should have power over such data on an opt-in or opt-out basis. Modern Healthcare et al.