Privacy advocates are still worried about the potential impact the bill could have on consumers. Many say they are concerned that the legislation will not do enough to protect the confidentiality of potentially damaging data. The Patient Privacy Rights Foundation tells the Los Angeles Times that not enough safeguards are in place to protect patients: "If the veterans administration can't prevent the theft of 26 million names and social security numbers from an electronic file, why would any patient believe their personal, sensitive health data is safe online?"
- check out this article from the Los Angeles Times
PLUS: The privacy issues surrounding technology and healthcare represent a real dilemma, The Boston Globe argues. The easiest thing to do would just be to ban access to anybody but providers. But what if access to data allows insurers to hold rates down? Or pharmaceutical companies to find cures more quickly? Article