The change in presidential administrations hasn't swayed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from its plan to publish several final or proposed rules this year for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, according to the agency's senior health information policy advisor, Dr. Bill Braithwaite. Braithwaite made his comments at a hospital CIO lunch meeting in New Orleans sponsored by information technology consulting firm Phoenix Health Systems.
Braithwaite said HHS would publish in the first half of 2001:
- Final national employer, provider, and national health plan identifiers.
- Final rule electronic claims attachments.
- Final security rules.
In the second half of 2001, HHS will publish:
- NPRM (proposed rule) on HIPAA enforcement procedures.
- NPRM (proposed rule) on standards for electronic first report of injury.
Braithwaite also remarked that "the time for payors to make profits on existing systems" that are insecure and provide little patient privacy is past. He said it's time for the health industry to catch up with other industries on resolving issues of privacy and security, according to Phoenix Health Systems.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersFebruary 9, 2001
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