Policy Solutions

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. 

Contact Congress About 3 Critical Health Care Issues While They Are Home for Recess

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Even though Congress could be called back from the August recess to address gun measures after the devastating shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) is urging state residents to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives about three important health care issues.

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.”

Trump’s Drug Importation Plan Doesn’t Address Real Reason for High Drug Prices

ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week that, in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it would publish a “Safe Importation Action Plan” outlining a pathway for the “safe importation of certain drugs originally intended for foreign markets.”

Congressional Attempt to End Surprise Medical Bills Will Socialize Doctors

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Few would deny that surprise medical bills are a problem. Patients experience these shocks to their wallets when they visit a hospital or provider for a service or treatment they thought was “covered” by their insurance. Weeks later, they may receive a surprise medical bill with out-of-pocket costs totaling hundreds or even thousands of dollars. CCHF has sent a letter to President Trump telling him there's a better way than the price controls Congress proposes to impose on physicians.

In a World Where the Affordable Care Act No Longer Exists…

ST. PAUL, Minn.—March was a great month for health care freedom.

On March 25, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice fully sided with the decision by United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas Reed O’Connor, who late last year ruled the Affordable Care Act invalid and unconstitutional. 

Defending the Strongest Patient Privacy Law in America

HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH

Volume 22: Issue 1: 1st Quarter 2019 

Will Trump Administration Restore Consent to HIPAA?

HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH

Volume 21: Issue 3: 3rd Quarter 2018

Putting “America” Back into Health Care

Everything went smoothly at first. Ilan, the nine-year old son of American physician Benjamin Davies, MD, broke his arm on vacation in Italy. The local hospital x-rayed the arm, reduced the fractures of each bone and applied a cast. But the question of surgery could only be determined by driving to a bigger hospital 1.5 hours away.