Executive Summary
This report examines current state and federal law protecting the confidentiality of health information. It focuses on four specific areas: public health information held by government, privately held health care information, HIV and AIDS-related information, and immunization information.
The ways in which our modern medical and public health systems collect, store, and use personally identifiable information have increased both the potential benefits from access to such information and the possible harms from improper uses and disclosures. The report examines the importance of both the collection of health information and the protection of its privacy. The collection and use of health information involves two important goals, yet sometimes competing goals: 1) gathering and disseminating accurate and timely information on the incidence and prevalence of disease, health information necessary for health care of individuals, assessment of health care and public health needs and evaluation of programs, services, institutions and providers; and 2) protecting that information from uses or disclosures that cause harm to individuals to whom the information pertains. The report reviews the current privacy safeguards under both state and federal law in order to determine whether they are adequate to protect the privacy of individuals and are consistent with effective health policy.
http://www.epic.org/privacy/medical/cdc_survey.html