This week, UnitedHealth Group announced that it will issue by the end of 2009 nearly 25 million machine-readable patient identification cards, Modern Healthcare reports. The patient ID cards will provide patient benefit-eligibility information, access to patients’ personal health records and real-time claim adjudication. The cards will comply with national standards established by the federal Workgroup…
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UK: Patient records 'could be used for targeting terrorists' under Justice Bill
Nigel Praities reports: Patient care records will be freely circulated among Government departments and could be used for targeting suspected terrorists under new legislation that has horrified IT experts. The draft Coroners and Justice Bill will allow any minister to circumvent data protection legislation and grant access to summary care record data without seeking patient…
NH prescription privacy law at U.S. Supreme Court
The Associated Press reports: Two companies that collect, analyze and sell prescription information are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to step into their continuing fight against New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation law making doctors’ prescription writing habits confidential.
Controversial measure would require DNA sampling at arrest
Jennifer Sullivan reports: Suspects arrested in cases as minor as shoplifting would have to give a DNA sample before they are even charged with a crime if a controversial proposal is approved by the [Washington State] Legislature. State criminal defense groups and the American Civil Liberties Union say the House bill is unconstitutional. It would…
Ca: Changes to Alberta's health record system may cause loss of patient privacy, doctors fear
Jamie Komarnicki reports: Personal health details may become more vulnerable if proposed changes affecting the provincewide electronic health record system go ahead, according to the Alberta Medical Association. Patients’ relationships with their doc-tors may also be at risk if feel they can’t trust the privacy of the health information they share with their physician,…
Experts urge overhaul of health privacy rules
Will Dunham reports: Current government rules do too little to protect the privacy of people’s personal health information and also hinder the use of health data in medical research, a panel of experts reported on Wednesday. A committee of the Institute of Medicine, which provides advice to U.S. policymakers, urged Congress to take an entirely…