California Proposes New Privacy Breach Protections: Will Other States Follow The Trend?
Last month The LA Times reported on a new law (AB 211 and SB 541) moving through the California Legislature to increase protections around confidential medical and health information and create a new state Office of Health Information Integrity to oversee compliance, investigate breaches and assess fines.
The article cites the high profile celebrity snooping cases into the records of Britney Spears, Farrah Fawcett and California First Lady Maria Shriver as recent examples highlighting the need for more protection. Governor Schwarzenegger has a personal interest in signing this bill if it gets through the legislature. The Health Law Prof Blog provides some additional insight and information on the bills.
As is often the case California is a leader in new legislative initiatives and I suspect we will see other states following the lead this coming legislative session looking at implementing or revising current breach notification and privacy of health information laws.
For more information on the bills check out the following additional information.
AB 211 (August 22, 2008 amendment) currently appears to be in the final stages of being passed by the California State Assembly. The bill creates a new Office of Health Information Integrity and gives the office powers to levy administrative […]
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