Electronic Health Records

Protect Newborn Genetic Privacy Rights

Parents are permitted to refuse newborn genetic screening or to choose private newborn genetic screening. Notwithstanding any other state or federal law or regulation, prior to conducting newborn genetic screening, a health care facility or health care provider must receive the express, separate, written, voluntary, informed consent of the parents or guardian of a newborn child. A general consent permitting treatment signed by the parents or guardian at admission to a facility does not fulfill this requirement. This consent requirement cannot be waived for any reason.

Significant Federal Challenges Coming in 2021

HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH

Volume 24: Issue 1: 1st Quarter 2021 

CCHF Testifies Against National Medical Database

CCHF Legislative and Policy Manager Ashley Smothers testified on February 18 against a bill before the Minnesota legislature that sought to advance a national database and expand patient data sharing. Her testimony starts around 14:00 into the video.

CCHF Sends Letters to all 130 MN Hospitals to Reject Health Surveillance

ST. PAUL, Minn. —Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) sent letters addressed to the leadership of all 130 hospitals in the state of Minnesota. The letter reminds each CEO or administrator of their legal obligation to disregard the April 3^rd Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Notification Letter, which unlawfully demands that hospitals transfer detailed Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) data on all hospitalized patients to the government – with or without a COVID-19 diagnosis.

California Abuses Patient Trust By Evaluating Children for “Toxic Stress”

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) is warning parents about California’s newest push to screen children for “toxic stress.” Starting this year, well-child visits for millions of California children could include questions about highly sensitive and delicate topics, such as divorce, family income, and unstable household environments.

HHS Proposal Weakening Substance Abuse Priv. Rule — Wrong Direction for Patients

ST. PAUL, Minn.—An effort is under way to weaken the federal regulation that for nearly 40 years has kept information about drug and alcohol treatment private. This should be a concern to all Americans, says Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), which exists to protect health care choices, individualized patient care, and medical and genetic privacy rights. 

‘Give Doctors a Reason to Stay’

ST. PAUL, Minn.—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently asked the medical community for input into a proposed “Patients over Paperwork” initiative, where additional focus would be placed on patient-centered care, innovation and outcomes, according to this summer’s Request for Information. 

31.6 Million Patients Affected by Data Breaches This Year—Doubled From 2018—Why?

ST. PAUL, Minn.—According to an eye-opening new report, “breaches of patient privacy appear to be on the rise in the first half of 2019 with an alarming number of records affected by security incidents: 31.6 million.”

Clinic Closes After Massive Hack - Dangers of EHRs

ST. PAUL, Minn.—A huge patient data hack at a Michigan clinic this spring caused two doctors to retire early and close their office for good. This hack that crippled and killed an entire medical practice wasn’t the first, says CCHF, and it won’t be the last.

Burdensome Regulations Pushing Doctors Out of Medicine

According to a recent study from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the nation may face a shortage of nearly 122,000 physicians by 2032, Healthcare Dive has reported.