(Circulation. 2001;103:e9034.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Cardiovascular News
Bush Administration Releases Medical Privacy Rules but Promises Later Modifications
In an unexpected move, the Bush administration announced that it would allow medical privacy rules issued by the Clinton administration to take effect as planned on April 14, 2001, but the rules will be modified by US Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson over the next few months.
The fate of the regulations had been in limbo since January when President George W. Bush took office. Former President Clinton had issued a host of new rules in the days before leaving office, but many of those rules were stayed by the new administration. The privacy rules would require doctors to obtain the consent of patients before disclosing their medical records to third parties. It would also strictly limit the use of patient information by health plans, hospitals, and other healthcare entities.
Hospitals, managed care organizations, and pharmaceutical firms had opposed the rules, calling them costly and complicated. It is expected that some of the changes Secretary Thompson will put into effect over the next year will alleviate some industry concerns, but most doubt that they will go as far as the industry wants.
In announcing the plan on April 12, 2001, Secretary Thompson
said, "The rules make sure that private health information doesn’t
fall victim to the progress of the information and technology age,
where an array of data is already available in computer systems and too
often just a keystroke away from being accessed. We are giving patients
peace of mind in knowing that their medical records are