Markle Foundation Releases Guidelines To Protect Privacy of Online Personal Health Records
The Markle Foundation on Wednesday released guidelines for the protection of the privacy of online personal health records that a number of technology companies, health care providers and health insurers have agreed to adopt, the AP/Washington Post reports. The "Connecting for Health" guidelines provide privacy protections for online PHRs equal to those included in the federal medical privacy rule issued after the enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The guidelines require notification of patients in a "timely way" in the event that information in their online PHRs is released by mistake or as a result of a security breach.
Google and Microsoft, which in recent months have launched online PHR services, as well as Intuit and WebMD, have agreed to adopt the guidelines. In addition, Aetna, America's Health Insurance Plans, BlueCross and BlueShield Association and the American Medical Association also have agreed to adopt the guidelines.
According to the Markle Foundation, only 6.1 million U.S. residents currently have online PHRs. Markle Foundation President Zoe Baird said, "Consumer demand for (PHRs) and online health services will take off when consumers trust that personal information will be protected."
Steve Findlay, a health care analyst for Consumers Union, said, "This is really an exemplary framework for going forward in this area," adding, "I think it will enhance the trust in consumers over the next few years" (Liedtke, AP/Washington Post, 6/25).
