Secretary Thompson Announces Regulation Review

March 1, 2001 -- Secretary Thompson announced today that he intends to implement a review process and report to President Bush on regulations that are "unnecessarily hindering" the health care industry. Stressing that this "is not change for the sake of change," he said that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will work to find out how to "best tear down the unnecessary fences." This review process is not directed specifically at the Congressionally-mandated HIPAA regulations.

Speaking at the HIPAA Summit in Washington, Sec. Thompson also discussed the HIPAA Privacy rule, stating that privacy is an important issue to President Bush and the department. He said the complexity of the regulations prompted the Department's decision to "take advantage of the delay" to ensure the DHHS "has not overstepped its authority" and examine the "unintended consequences." He also stated that the rules shouldn't "so burdensome" that they interfere with access to health care.

Addressing issues such a funding for research and prescription drug access, Sec. Thompson indicated that instead of more regulations, the administration would rather seek to "work with states and private enterprise industry" to develop creative solutions to "our vexing healthcare problems." He emphasized that the Bush Administration wants to "build bridges" rather than barriers.

Text of HIPAA Summit Speech