A case between the state of Vermont and data mining companies could make all the difference in patient privacy, according to a Healthcare IT News report.
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell filed a brief saying Vermont's prescription confidentiality law is constitutional in allowing physicians to block prescribing information. Data mining companies often mine pharmacy records to sell information to pharmaceutical companies, who in turn use that information to target certain physicians in their marketing strategies to increase product sales. The data mining companies, including IMS, say the prescription confidentiality law violates their First Amendment rights, according to the news report.
Numerous entities and organizations, including the state of Illinois and 34 other states, the U.S. Department of Justice and various medical societies, showed support of Vermont's argument. A state federal district court upheld the prescription confidentiality law, but a court of appeals overturned the ruling in Nov. 2010. The case has now made its way to the Supreme Court. The case is scheduled for April 26.
Read the news report about the case involving Vermont's prescription confidentiality law.
Read other coverage about patient privacy:
- Henry Ford Health System Loses Information on More Than 2K Patients
- Massachusetts General Pays $1M to Settle HIPAA Violation Allegations
- Maryland's Cignet Health to Pay $4.3M for HIPAA Violation
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell filed a brief saying Vermont's prescription confidentiality law is constitutional in allowing physicians to block prescribing information. Data mining companies often mine pharmacy records to sell information to pharmaceutical companies, who in turn use that information to target certain physicians in their marketing strategies to increase product sales. The data mining companies, including IMS, say the prescription confidentiality law violates their First Amendment rights, according to the news report.
Numerous entities and organizations, including the state of Illinois and 34 other states, the U.S. Department of Justice and various medical societies, showed support of Vermont's argument. A state federal district court upheld the prescription confidentiality law, but a court of appeals overturned the ruling in Nov. 2010. The case has now made its way to the Supreme Court. The case is scheduled for April 26.
Read the news report about the case involving Vermont's prescription confidentiality law.
Read other coverage about patient privacy:
- Henry Ford Health System Loses Information on More Than 2K Patients
- Massachusetts General Pays $1M to Settle HIPAA Violation Allegations
- Maryland's Cignet Health to Pay $4.3M for HIPAA Violation