An advisory panel of the Department of Health & Human Services calls on physicians to distribute easily understood notices to patients about how their information will be used and protected, according to a Healthcare IT News report.
The panel said in an Oct. 15 meeting that physicians should include in notices a short summary of privacy practices, which is required by HIPAA. These notices are to be read and signed by patients during office visits, they add.
In addition to the panel's recommendation of using easily understood language in privacy notices, the panel also recommends layering the notices with face-to-face discussions of privacy practices, especially when a third party, such as a health information organization, is involved with handling personal health information.
The recommendations come after the panel submitted a proposal to HHS about setting up patient consent practices in direct exchanges between healthcare providers or with testing labs. Meaningful use rules for 2011 allow providers to conduct simple provider-to-provider exchanges. The panel is also considering methods of identity authentication or verification of individuals or organizations seeking personal health information.
Read the Healthcare IT News report about the HHS panel's recommendation on privacy and protection notices.
Read other coverage about HIPAA:
- ONC to Analyze Risks of De-Identified Patient Health Records
- Connecticut Attorney General Brings First HIPAA Suit Under HITECH Act
The panel said in an Oct. 15 meeting that physicians should include in notices a short summary of privacy practices, which is required by HIPAA. These notices are to be read and signed by patients during office visits, they add.
In addition to the panel's recommendation of using easily understood language in privacy notices, the panel also recommends layering the notices with face-to-face discussions of privacy practices, especially when a third party, such as a health information organization, is involved with handling personal health information.
The recommendations come after the panel submitted a proposal to HHS about setting up patient consent practices in direct exchanges between healthcare providers or with testing labs. Meaningful use rules for 2011 allow providers to conduct simple provider-to-provider exchanges. The panel is also considering methods of identity authentication or verification of individuals or organizations seeking personal health information.
Read the Healthcare IT News report about the HHS panel's recommendation on privacy and protection notices.
Read other coverage about HIPAA:
- ONC to Analyze Risks of De-Identified Patient Health Records
- Connecticut Attorney General Brings First HIPAA Suit Under HITECH Act