Coalition for Health Information Policy (CHIP)
Urges HHS Secretary to Move Forward with HIPAA Regulations

March 30, 2001 -- The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has joined the Coalition for Health Information Policy (CHIP) in urging Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to not delay further implementation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule regulations.

In a letter sent to Secretary Thompson on March 30, CHIP members indicated their strong support of enacting federal legislation to protect the confidentiality of medical records and stated that:

The enormous potential of computer and communications technologies to improve healthcare delivery, quality and access, while also reducing costs, cannot be realized unless individuals, and society, are confident that safeguards are in place to protect the confidentiality of personal health information.  These uniform national standards should protect identifiable personal health information, while allowing effective and efficient management and delivery of healthcare services, and fostering advances in medical and health services research and promotion of the public health. We urge that you adopt on April 14, 2001, the standards and implementation specifications of the rule entitled "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information."

According to H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS president/CEO, "Establishing uniform national standards to ensure the confidentiality of personal health information is critical to improving healthcare delivery and quality.  But we need to make certain that access to and use of health data is appropriately managed.  The HIMSS bottom line on these regulations is that they should be implemented without further delay."

"While many of us in healthcare believe these regulations need modification," Lieber says, "the HHS Secretary has the authority to make changes in the future.  Therefore, HIMSS and the other members of CHIP believe it is unnecessary to delay this process while attempting to fine tune the regulations."

"Public confidence in our healthcare system is critical," Lieber concludes.  "We must make certain that we take steps to protect identifiable personal health information so that this confidence is not compromised."

As part of its overall strategic plan, Lieber says that a HIMSS Advocacy Committee was recently formed to ensure that national healthcare regulations, policies and funding reflect the vision and goals of the organization based on the expertise and knowledge of healthcare information and management systems professionals.

Text of Letter (includes Recommendations)