In an article for the IAPP, Partner Kirk Nahra discusses the proposed Health Information Privacy Reform Act, introduced by US Senator Bill Cassidy. The article highlights the growing chaos in health privacy due to fragmented state laws, FTC enforcement and the limitations of HIPAA. While the bill is unlikely to become law soon, it raises visibility for health privacy issues in the national debate.

Excerpt: "The convoluted history of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has resulted in a strong set of privacy rules for entities subject to HIPAA, but no clear and obvious protection for the wide range of health care data that is not subject to the HIPAA Rules. This bill largely says, 'let's treat this area just like HIPAA.' For me, there are lots of reasons not to act this way, and this bill also creates a big set of confusing issues that may not easily make the growing mess any better — and will likely make it worse."

Read the full article.