Consumer Groups Urge HHS
Not To Delay Final Health Privacy Rule

February 13, 2001 -- On February 7, 2001, the Consumer Coalition for Health Privacy sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging Secretary Thompson not to delay the effective date and implementation of the final health privacy regulation. The final regulation was published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2000, and the scheduled effective date is February 26, 2001. Compliance is required 2 years after the effective date.

The Health Privacy Project also sent a letter to Secretary Thompson on February 12th to respond to some of the statements made by members of the health care industry in the press and at the Senate HELP Committee hearing last week. The Project urged the Secretary to maintain the scheduled effective date and suggested that HHS convene interested stakeholders to identify and address legitimate implementation issues.