The Department of Health and Human Services is revising its regulations for health information exchange security and patient privacy for patients obtaining treatment for substance abuse orders, according to Health IT Security.
Here are five observations:
1. The agency will update its protocols for protecting patient information as a result of increased information sharing and health information exchange.
2. HHS is updating its Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations. The regulations were established in 1975 to protect patients from different types of prosecution or discrimination if seeking drug abuse treatment.
3. While the HHS's primary goal is to protect sensitive information, the agency also aims to modernize the regulations. In a statement, the agency said, "HHS is proposing to modernize the existing rules because new models are built on a foundation of information sharing to support coordination of patient care."
4. HHS officials say the revisions still enable patients obtaining substance abuse treatment to get the same kinds of care coordination and patient engagement as other patients.
5. The updates clarify the definitions of various keywords in health information exchange and patient privacy.
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