HIPAA

The federal Privacy Rule that took effect in 2003 under the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is based on fair information practices and represents a landmark in health privacy protection.  Notwithstanding more than five years of experience in implementing the Privacy Rule, myths about its provisions still persist. 

 
 

Follow the latest CDT news with Press Releases, Events, and where we've been featured around the Internet.

Name Issues Date
CDT Statement on Changes to HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
Statement: Washington, DC – The Center for Democracy & Technology is pleased today with release of...
7/8/2010
Deven McGraw will participate in an FTC Privacy Roundtable panel titled "Health Information."
Event: Deven McGraw will participate in an FTC Privacy Roundtable panel titled "Health Information,...
3/27/2010
Deven McGraw will participate in a panel: Think Tank: Legal Issues in Active Medical Product Surveillance
Event: Supported by a grant from FDA, the one-day workshop will feature productive discussion and exchange...
3/8/2010
CDT Health IT Breakfast Panel
Event: Implementation of Health IT: The Payoff for the Patient? The panel will explore the potential for...
2/12/2010
CDT Calls for Strong Privacy Provisions to be Included in Economic Stimulus Package
Press Release:   Washington-The Center for Democracy & Technology today, in testimony before the Senate...
1/27/2009

Policy Posts deliver in-depth analysis of current issues affecting the Internet. These documents are a leading resource for policy makers, the press, industry representatives, students, and others interested in legal and policy issues affecting the Internet.

Name Issues Date
CDT Breaks Down Proposed Changes to HIPAA The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed a set of significant updates to... 8/6/2010

Find all our latest testimony, papers, and other reports here.

Name Author Issues Date
Health Information Privacy: Current Trends, Future Opportunities
Comment: CDT has filed these comments in advance of the FTC's 3rd "Exploring Privacy"...
3/1/2010
President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology Health Information Planning Meeting
Testimony: We appreciate the opportunity to present on health privacy issues.  By way of background, you...
Deven McGraw 12/18/2009
Testimony of Deven McGraw
Testimony: Testimony of Deven McGraw before the California Senate Committee on Health on "Health...
Deven McGraw 3/13/2009
Testimony of Deven McGraw
Testimony: Testimony of Deven McGraw before the Senate Judiciary Committee on "Health IT: Protecting...
Deven McGraw 1/27/2009
Myths and Facts about HIPAA, Part 2
Report: These Myths and Facts documents answer common myths about HIPAA and health privacy. These facts...
Deven McGraw 1/9/2009

Featured Blog Posts

The health IT and privacy communities have their heads buried in text! Three branches of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) have released more than a thousand pages of rules on health IT in less than a week. HHS released two rules on... Continued »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed a set of significant updates to health privacy rules yesterday. The proposed rule tackles how sensitive patient information is handled under Health Insurance Portability and... Continued »
Last month, we blogged about how Humana (and maybe some other health plans) sent warnings through letters to its Medicare beneficiaries that they could lose their health care benefits and services due to health care reform legislation pending in... Continued »
Last week we learned that Humana -- and possibly some other Medicare plans -- inappropriately used enrollees' personal data to send them letters saying they could lose their benefits and services due to the impending health care reform legislation... Continued »