Patient Privacy

Data Security in State Exchanges and Federal Hub is Impossible

CCHF maintains that the speed of implementation will result in insufficient data protections in a PPACA technology infrastructure that is a rich target for data thieves and that patient data will be compromised, and therefore implementation must be halted until patient data security can be assured.

The Exchange is NOT a Marketplace

The Minnesota healthcare exchange is not a marketplace. It is not, as some have called it, a “one-stop-shopping” place for health insurance or “Travelocity.” The MN Exchange, being built under DFL Governor Mark Dayton’s executive order, and now advancing through legislation, has been called the “Minnesota Insurance Marketplace.” 

Reality #4 – National Database of Your Personal Information

Buried in the text of the Minnesota Obamacare Exchange bill (MNHIX) has a tiny but controversial section allowing free-flow sharing of all data the government has on you. It also grants them access to the date “other entities” have on you. There is no limit to the agencies that can share data. There is no limit to the data that can be shared. There is no limit with whom the data may be shared.

MN Health Insurance Exchange Realities

Deceptive Bill Sells PPACA Exchange as One-Stop “Marketplace” for Health Insurance

As Minnesota convened its first session of its 88^th Legislature, the Senate’s most important priority was to introduce and begin passage of Senate File 1: a bill for an act relating to commerce and establishing the Minnesota Insurance Marketplace. According to the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (www.cchfreedom.org), the bill is deceptive in several ways, most notably in its description of the state healthcare exchange

The Latest Perils of Obamacare

Obamacare is coming. Soon everyone will feel the painful realities of what the Democrat-empowered Congress imposed on the nation. It's going to be more painful than many experts predicted. Besides the negative impact on quality of care, there will also be significant cost increases leading to reduced access to health insurance and patient care. 

Americans Demand More Time to Comment on Proposed PPACA Regulations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set forth four new Obamacare regulations that totaled more than 700 pages during the holiday season and allowed for only 30 days of public review and comment. A majority of public comments on these bills – totaling more than 80 percent on one regulation – insisted that the HHS extend the review and comment period to 90 days to allow for adequate review and public feedback.

CCHF Comment on MN Health Records Access Legislative Study

As you know, according to Chapter 247 of Minnesota's Laws 2012, your department is required to report "any relevant patient privacy" recommendations from the heath records access study. We certainly expect to see such recommendations based on our comments and the comments of the general public in the upcoming report. In response to the three questions regarding consent, health records, notification of breaches and audit logs in the Minnesota Health Records Access Study, I provide the following comments on behalf of Citizens' Council for Health Freedom.

Take Action - Comment on MN Health Records Access Legislative Study

The MN Dept of Health wants your comments on patient consent before accessing private medical records, on having to inform patients about unauthorized access to medical records, and on whether patients should be able to see the electronic logs that show exactly who accessed their medical records, when, where, and why. You almost didn't get this opportunity. Deadline for Comments - Thursday, Dec. 20

Exchanges to Track Patients and Doctors - CMS Request for Comments

CMS has issued a request for comments, including a list of questions, on how to redesign health care through the Exchanges. It's under the rubric of Obamacare's "National Quality Strategy" (Section 3011) and it follows the Section 1311 requirement that Exchanges pay health plans more if they improve health outcomes through government reporting, case management, care coordination, chronic disease management, medication and care compliance initiatives, health IT, wellness activities, and reduction of "health disparities." Read the questions for clarity of intrusions to come.