AHIMA Calls for Modification of HIPAA Privacy Rule

In testimony to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality, AHIMA indicated its desire to see modifications of the HIPAA privacy rule to address significant member-reported problems with "accounting for disclosure of protected health information (PHI) as required by law." AHIMA further recommended that the regulations be modified to address problems of authorization formats for patient (individual) requests for release of information and inpatient directories.

AHIMA also identified other problems areas, identified by members in an informal November survey, which require more attention on the part of NCVHS and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). AHIMA Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Dan Rode noted that it has only been five months since the major implementation of the regulations and that more study is needed to identify issues that appear to be related to the law's preemption requirements and its requirements associated with research, release of information to family members, and other items suggested by members. While most testifiers, including AHIMA, cited the good work done by the OCR, they also noted that many organizations and individuals are still seeking a simple, authoritative description of the regulation's requirements.

AHIMA also noted that in spite of public and industry fears, the implementation of HIPAA privacy went fairly well and many members reported some significant benefits associated with the process of implementation. Rode announced that AHIMA intended to continue its assessment of the "state of privacy," and would continue to report its findings to the subcommittee and the healthcare industry. AHIMA's written testimony can be found on the AHIMA Web site at: www.ahima.org/dc/. All written testimony and transcripts will soon be available on the NCVHS Web site at: ncvhs.hhs.gov/.