CCHF Connects with Lawmakers on Patient Privacy, Opioid Crisis

New Parent Lawsuit Exposes Stolen ‘Baby DNA,’ Says Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) is applauding a new lawsuit where a group of parents are suing the state of Michigan for “stolen blood” because the Michigan BioTrust for Health stores Baby DNA for research—without parental consent.

World Aghast at Facebook Data Scandal, But HIPAA Shares Private Patient Data Every Day

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Headlines exploded when it was discovered that Facebook may have had a role in allowing a UK-based political data firm that worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to improperly access data on 87 million people, CNN, among others, reported. Less than a month later, CNBC reported Facebook had a plan to match Facebook user data with patient data, which was put on hold after the previous leak was discovered.

Congress Moving Ahead to Take Away Privacy & Consent in Matters of Substance Abuse

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Patient privacy, when it comes to sensitive medical information, is almost a thing of the past—thanks to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) “no-privacy rule,” says Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF). But one area that has remained private is data concerning substance abuse, currently kept separate from most medical records to protect patients.

Tax Time = Time to Opt-Out of Obamacare

ST. PAUL, Minn.—As we begin the month of April, many Americans begrudgingly work to finish preparing their tax returns for the 2017 year. For many, because Obamacare penalties are not zeroed out until 2019, there’s special attention directed towards the Affordable Care Act and the tax penalties associated with going uninsured.

EHRs Were Supposed to Save Money— But Aren’t

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Proponents of electronic health records (EHRs) say digital medical records are supposed to cut costs, but a new major study by researchers at Harvard Business School and Duke University shows how the promised savings aren’t materializing.

10 Harms of Stripping Patient Consent

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF, www.cchfreedom.org) is alerting Minnesota residents—and the nation—about two bills that would void patient consent requirements found in the Minnesota Health Records Act (MHRA) by imposing the federal HIPAA “no consent” rule.

Not All EHRs Are Created Equal

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Anyone familiar with Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF, www.cchfreedom.org) knows the patient advocacy and privacy protection organization is no fan of the government mandate to install and “meaningfully use” Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

Minnesota Legislators Introduce Bills to Bypass Consent Requirements and End Patient Privacy

As Minnesota employs some of the country’s toughest patient privacy laws, this exception downgrades Minnesota’s consent requirements to the level of the federal HIPAA “No Privacy” rule, says CCHF. The bills, if passed, would circumvent Minnesota’s strongest-in-the-nation privacy law and render it useless.

Idaho Is Leading the Way Back to Affordable Health Insurance

ST. PAUL, Minn.—As some states are pushing for their own individual mandate to purchase health insurance or be penalized, the state of Idaho is working to break free from the clutches of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).