Congress considers strengthening HIPAA rules for electronic records

Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas), their party’s respective leaders on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, introduced legislation today that would strengthen HIPAA rules pertaining to Electronic Health Records (Source: “Dingell, Barton Sponsor I.T. Bill,” Health Data Mangement, July 25, 2008).

Among the changes would be a requirement that individuals potentially affected by security breaches be within 60 days. Also, the bill would permit patients to specify that information about a specific health care item or service that was paid in full out-of-pocket not be disclosed to an insurer.