[Med-privacy] MA bill

[peter marshall]

Massachusetts considers bill that includes breach notification

      Massachusetts is considering a bill that would create a
      notification  requirement for medical records breaches.  The 
legislation -
      H4974/S2863, An Act to Promote Cost Containment, Transparency and
      Efficiency in the Delivery of Quality Health Care - has passed the
      senate and is awaiting the approval of the house. It includes
      privacy and data security protections within a statewide electronic
      medical records system, including notice of unauthorized
    disclosures of health information, providing patients an audit trail 
of who has
      accessed their records, and requiring that participation in an
      electronic medical record system be based on patient permission.
      H4974 has been applauded by the Aids Action Committee of
      Massachusetts for its strong protection of patient privacy, which
      is   of particular concern to people with HIV/AIDS.

      S2863:
      	http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02526.htm

      Amendments Proposed by the House:
      	http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04974.pdf

      EPIC article on medical records privacy:
      	http://epic.org/privacy/medical/

      AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts Press Release:
      	http://www.aac.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=19335

[EPIC]