Health Surveillance

Interoperability Bill would Connect Electronic Health Records across the Country

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom Says Americans’ Private Health Data is Already at Risk and Forced Interoperability Will Make Gaining Access Even Easier

ST. PAUL, Minn.—One lawmaker is pushing for a bill that will require all Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in the country to work together and be able to communicate from system to system.

CCHF Alerts Parents About Government Storage and Use of Their Baby’s DNA

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF, www.cchfreedom.org) wants parents of newborns in Minnesota to know that they aren’t the only ones who know their babies intimately.

CCH Freedom Testifies on Three Ways to Protect Medical Privacy at House Committee Hearing 

The Minnesota House of Representatives Civil Law and Data Practices Committee, held an informational hearing to learn more about protecting patients’ health information in the state.

The morning’s presentation, titled “Protecting Medical Privacy in Minnesota,” included testimony by CCHF on protecting patients’ rights and data and the threats to Minnesota’s current privacy protections as a result of efforts to repeal the state’s privacy law by requiring the state to conform to HIPAA.

The Scary Truth Behind Birth Certificates

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom Releases New Report on Newborn Data Collection; Says Birth Certificates and Newborn DNA Storage Pose Double Threat   

ST. PAUL, Minn.—There’s something expectant parents should know about the private, sensitive information being shared at the hospital at the time of their baby’s birth.

Birth Certificates Are a Data-Collection Vehicle for the Government

ST. PAUL, Minn.—The birth of a baby is a joyous time, filled with activity, questions from new parents and lots of information sharing—especially at the hospital.

But during that somewhat stressful time, precious private information about these new little lives will be shared with countless others, through a seemingly harmless document—the birth certificate.

Profiled from Birth, Vol. 1: Not Just a Birth Certificate

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF, www.cchfreedom.org), a Minnesota-based national organization dedicated to preserving patient-centered health care and protecting patient and privacy rights, recently released a new report, called “Not Just a Birth Certificate: How states use birth certificates to collect data, conduct research and warehouse electronic health information.” 

Checkboxes, Ebola, and Embedding the EHR

Should the EHR be blamed? After a Texas hospital let Liberian Thomas Duncan go home (with Ebola), hospital officials blamed the electronic health record (EHR). A day later, they retracted their statement -- without explanation.

There is Reason for Optimism

The report is in. Our "Obamacare: Making Repeal a Reality" event got rave reviews. One attendee said it had a "great vibe." She described it as "fun and relaxed and important."

On September 11th, we not only raised funds for our 2015 efforts, we also celebrated CCHF's 20th anniversary with Fox New All-Star Stephen Hayes as keynote speaker. Sprinkling humor throughout his presentation, he shared important insights.

How Obama Will Control Doctors

Electronic health records (EHRs) are the foundation of Obamacare. The 2009 HITECH Act (part of the Recovery Act, or ARRA) mandated government-certified interoperable EHRs and provided up to $36.5 billion to subsidize the cost of initial computerization. Already $24.8 million has been spent.

10-Year Government Plan Will Share Private Patient Data

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Earlier this summer, government health IT coordinators announced the formation of a 10-year electronic health records (EHR) interoperability plan that will allow even more government agencies access to Americans’ private medical data—all in the name of better patient care.