ST. PAUL, Minn. — Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) will be in Concord, New Hampshire tomorrow, February 7, to testify for House Bill 1663 (HB-1663), a critical initiative – with bipartisan support – that aims to establish the strongest patient privacy law in the country. This bill would provide New Hampshire patients autonomy over their own personal health information.
State Representative Erica Layon (Rock. 13) is the sponsor of HF-1663, a bill with two Republican and two Democrat co-sponsors. If passed, HB-1663 will:
1. Empower individuals to regain control over their health information and determine how it is utilized
2. Establish clear guidelines for informed consent and provide a private right of action for patients, creating essential guardrails to protect the privacy of medical data
3. Recognize that medical information belongs to the patient, positioning health care practitioners as protective stewards of this confidential data
“Medical records contain details, lifestyle choices, and medical and mental health conditions that patients often want to keep private from outside eyes but are forced to share with certain practitioners to receive the care they need. HB-1663 protects the patient’s privacy rights and lays a foundation of trust that patients need for frank conversations with their doctors,” says Twila Brase, RN, PHN, Co-founder and President of CCHF.
HB-1663 will be heard by the House Health, Human Services, and Elder Affairs Committee at 1:00 PM EST on Wednesday, February 7. This hearing will be open to the public. Testimony is encouraged.
“Rep. Layon’s bill would create the nation’s strongest medical privacy law. We encourage New Hampshire residents to ask their state representatives to vote yes on HB-1663. Patients have a pivotal role to play in protecting their own rights. Medical privacy rights are critical for patients, allowing them to be in the “driver’s seat” with their doctors in these important and very private decisions,” adds Brase.
CCHF urges individuals to attend the hearing and show their support for patient privacy rights in New Hampshire.
