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CT Health Notes Issue Date: 5/25/2009Share your thoughts on eHealth privacy for Connecticut
eHealth Connecticut, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging the secure exchange of health information in our state, is working with DSS to implement a pilot health information exchange for Medicaid patients. As part of that pilot project, the Connecticut Health Policy Project is working with eHealth Connecticut to develop a privacy and security policy for the health information exchange. eHealth Connecticut and the Connecticut Health Policy Project are committed to incorporating the broadest range of public input possible into the policy's development. We began with a consumer forum at the Capitol April 20, 2009, where we collected lots of helpful input. We are now considering a set of policy questions that need to be answered by any privacy policy. Health information exchanges allow providers to work together by electronically connecting to coordinate patients' care and reduce medical errors. In states with a health information exchange in place, a physician seeing a patient for an unresolved problem can review the workup performed at other physician offices, helping to reduce the burden of repeat testing on the patients and healthcare system. Providers in an ER can gain access to critical information about an unconscious patient through a health information exchange, improving the care they can provide. The first question in developing the policy is whether to have an opt-in or opt-out policy. In an opt-in system, consumers must affirmatively choose to allow their health information to be shared in the health information exchange. In an opt-out policy, consumers are assumed to have agreed to share their information within current HIPAA guidelines unless they affirmatively choose to opt-out of the system. There are advantages and disadvantages to either policy. To learn more and give us your thoughts, comment on our blog or email us at information@cthealthpolicy.org. For more on the issue, visit our eHealth resource page. Summer reading list
As the days get warmer, we at the Project are laying in a pile of books. For some of our favorites, check out our Book Club. Please send us your book suggestions at information@cthealthpolicy.org. We are always looking for good books. May Connecticut Health Policy Web quiz - Connecticut hospital finances
Test your knowledge of Connecticut's hospital finances. Take the May Connecticut Health Policy Web Quiz. May's quiz was prepared by Karen Nepomuceno, Connecticut Health Policy Project Intern Spring 2009. Updates from the CT Health Notes Blog
Consumers share of health care costs to increase 7.4% next year SustiNet bill passes the House NY medical home provides impressive, efficient care Dodd/DeLauro health reform event Medicaid Managed Care Council/Charter Oak update Legislative briefing on health care reform New briefs on impact of HUSKY cuts Donaghue Foundation conference notes CT Health Notes is an informational newsletter of the Connecticut Health Policy Project. Feel free to share CT Health Notes freely. If you know someone who would like to subscribe, please refer them to our online subscription form. If you would like to be removed from the list, please use our online form to unsubscribe. Return to CT Health Notes Home Page |