CDT Calls for Strong Privacy Provisions to be Included in Economic Stimulus Package

In testimony today before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Deven McGraw, director of the Health Privacy Project at CDT, urged Congress to include strong privacy protections with the proposed $20 billion for health information technology that is part of President Obama’s economic stimulus package. Survey data shows that Americans have significant concerns about the privacy of putting their medical records online. McGraw applauded privacy provisions in the stimulus bill moving through the House, saying they are a step in the right direction toward creating a comprehensive framework of privacy and security protections for electronic health information. McGraw’s urged the Senate to go a step further, by adding additional enforcement and accountability provisions.