Rhode Island Bill Aims To Facilitate Statewide Health Data Exchange
February 14, 2008
Rhode Island lawmakers this week introduced legislation aimed at addressing privacy and security issues related to the exchange of patient data as the state prepares to launch a health information exchange, Health IT Strategist reports.
The Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008 would ensure that patients are aware of the health information exchange and have given permission to share their data. In addition, the bill would make the exchange voluntary for both providers and patients, and they would have the right to terminate participation at any time. The bill also would give consumers access to what information is shared and who is accessing it, as well as reports of security breaches.
Since 2004, the Rhode Island Quality Institute has been working to develop a statewide health data exchange through a five-year, $5 million grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (DerGurahian, Health IT Strategist, 2/13).
Readers are invited to send feedback to: ihb@chcf.org
LINK:
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2008/2/14/Rhode-Island-Bill-Aims-To-Facilitate-Statewide-Health-Data-Exchange.aspx?topicID=54
