Senate wants privacy safeguards for HIT

Senators and witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday said that privacy safeguards need to be put in place before Congress makes a large-scale push toward the implementation of electronic health records (Source: “Groups push for health IT privacy safeguards,” New York Times, Jan. 27, 2009).

"If you don't have adequate safeguards to protect privacy, many Americans aren't going to seek medical treatment," said Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat.

The $825 billion stimulus bill that passed the House Tuesday and is now heading to the Senate includes $20 billion for HIT, including the establishment of an Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Included in the bill are privacy provisions such as an extension of privacy requirements to business associates of health-care providers, and a requirement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services put out annual guidance on the most effective privacy safeguards. The bill also requires health-care providers to notify customers of any security breaches.