Contrasting trust models under development for NHIN and NHIN Direct

The Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), a government-sponsored initiative started in 2004 and re-emphasized in the Health Information Technology for Clinical and Economic Health (HITECH) Act, is no longer envisioned as a “network” at all (in…

Privacy settings do matter: subpoenas quashed for disclosure of social networking data

In a recent federal district court ruling noted and summarized by the always-astute privacy team at law firm Hunton & Williams, an individual user of Facebook, MySpace, and other less well known online communities, who is…

Senators propose law banning pre-paid cell phones

In a move ostensibly intended to aid anti-terrorism efforts, Senators Charles Schumer and John Cornyn issued a joint press release two weeks ago announcing proposed legislation that would essentially end the anonymity of pre-paid cell phones…

Trust not required for cooperation if common interests can be found

An article published last week in the New York Times describes the apparent realization by both the administration and the health insurance industry — long time adversaries on health care reform — that they both have…

Recent anti-fraud success, health reform law provisions show government, insurers getting serious about health care fraud

Reports released within the past month by both government health authorities and health insurers highlight recent successes in combating health care fraud and saving or recovering substantial amounts of money. A Blue Cross and Blue Shield…

Privacy breach lawsuits repeatedly dismissed where harm cannot be proven

A recent ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest in a series of cases where individuals whose personal information was involved in a data breach were unable to successfully pursuit causes of…

Alleged health data disclosure via Facebook raises legal and policy issues

Reports of potential breaches of patient privacy at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California have garnered the HIPAA-related attention you would expect, but are also raising questions about the availability and use of social networking sites…