Patient Privacy

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FYI! An Issue We Need to Closely Monitor!

Sunday | July 22, 2001

Patient privacy explained Guide aims to clear up confusion over new rules 07/07/2001 Associated Press WASHINGTON – Friends can pick up prescriptions at the local pharmacy. Hospitals don't have to build soundproof rooms for patient consultation. Parents generally may be told if their children have had abortions or visited drug clinics. The government issued a guide on federal privacy rules Friday to answer questions that arose after President Bush endorsed updated rules in April.

The rules, which originated in the Clinton administration, were meant to ensure that hospitals, doctors, insurers and others keep patients' personal files private.

Mr. Bush promised some additional changes, but Friday's document doesn't contain any, said Bill Pierce, a spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department.

He said the guidelines were issued to clear up confusion over existing provisions.

The rules grant patients the right to see their records, control who sees them and take steps to guard the records misuse.

Providers who violate the rules can face fines or jail time.

Many doctors and hospitals protested that the rules were too strict and would hamper their ability to help patients by sharing needed information about treatment and conditions.

The rules went into effect April 14, but most health plans and providers that are covered by them will have until April 2003 to comply.

The guidelines focused on a number of areas that included parental consent, who shares health data and what rights to protection patients have.

The guidelines make clear that parents will have access to a child's information, except in states where minors are allowed to seek health care services on their own, the government statement says.

In mostly Q & A format, the guide puts some other misconceptions to rest.

The privacy rule does not require hospitals and doctors' offices to use private rooms or soundproof walls, or to encrypt wireless or telephone signals to avoid any possibility that a conversation between doctor and patient is overheard.

So far, new patients to a pharmacy can't just have a prescription phoned in without providing their written consent.

But government officials said they would address that issue.

Martha M / NSIF

Martha Murdock, DirectorNational Silicone Implant FoundationDallas, Texas Headquarters

Purposes for which the Corporation (NSIF) is organized are to perform the charitable activities within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501©(3) and Texas Tax Code Section 11.18 ©(1).Specifically, the Corporation is organized for the purposes of education and research of Silicone-related disease.

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