Health Information Management

Lawmakers to introduce bill protecting patient, consumer privacy

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, April 18, 2005

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Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) Thursday announced plans to introduce the Safeguarding Americans from Exporting Identity Data (SAFE ID) Act, according to a press release from Senator Clinton's office. The legislation is meant to protect the privacy of consumers and patients when American businesses and healthcare organizations send accounting and medical information overseas for processing.

The SAFE ID Act would require businesses and healthcare organizations to notify their customers and patients before sharing information with foreign affiliates or subcontractors. It also requires companies to offer consumers the chance to opt out of such arrangements, and does not allow companies to charge consumers more for doing so.

Additionally, the legislation states that the company or organization that sent the information overseas must take responsibility for any damages caused by "improper storage, duplication, sharing, or other misuse of such information, including identity theft and related acts by foreign subcontractors," according to the press release.

Click here to view a copy of the legislation.



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