Today the Cabinet for Health and Human Services released new rules outlining the rights of patients’ access to health information. The new provisions enable consumers to receive lab test results and other health information directly from labs through the use of health information technology.
Secretary Sebelius inrtoduced Leon Rodriguez as the new Director of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR is the agency responsible for HIPAA enforcement and oversees and investigates all complaints or concerns related to consumer privacy protections.
“Consumers need to know that private and secure access to their health information is a given,” stated OCR Director Rodriguez. “The privacy and security of health data will be a top priority for OCR during my tenure.”
This announcement along with the unveiling of the long awaited voluntary Personal Health Record (PHR) Model Privacy Notice occurred at the kick-off meeting of the first HHS Consumer Health IT Summit.
The model PHR notice is meant to improve consumer understanding of privacy practices and build public trust in electronic health records. Its development has been in the works for several years.
“As technology improves more aspects of our daily lives, it makes sense to marry cutting-edge technology with our medical and personal health records so that we can improve both the quality and efficiency of the care that people receive,” said National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Farzad Mostashari, M.D., Sc.M. “We are encouraging everyone to visit our website at www.HealthIT.gov to read our newly released Strategic Plan that sets forth our comprehensive plans for consumer empowerment for the next five years.“
The PHR Model Privacy Notice was released for public use and is available at:
http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt/community/healthit_hhs_gov__draft_phr_model_notice/1176
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