Health Affairs, 28, no. 2 (2009): 447-449 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.447 © 2009 by Project HOPE	New Online   House Health Reform Bill   Paying for Reform   Vetting AHIP's Report   HIV/AIDS Costs   Brief: Insurance Reform   HA Blog Top 10

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Perspectives

PERSPECTIVE

Protecting Patients In Health Information Exchange: A Defense Of The HIPAA Privacy Rule

Regional health information organizations (RHIOs) rapidly integrate and deliver patient information to clinicians from multiple independent care organizations. By providing such information, they can reduce health care costs and improve safety. Special concerns about privacy arise as these regional systems connect nationally. We should add special barriers beyond the protections of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect against surprises at the national level. At the local level, we should remain within the HIPAA rules because the application of additional barriers to RHIO access would interfere with efficient and safe care.

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