NEW YORK, July 21 The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA), ardent protectors of medical privacy (http://www.apsa.org/Default.aspx?TabName=ESSENTIAL+PRIVACY+PRINCIPLES), are today urging Members of House Energy and Commerce Committee to recognize and protect the right to health information privacy by voting NO on the PRO(TECH)T Act (http://energycommerce.house.gov/HealthIT_2008/index.shtml) unless it recognizes and protects the patient's right to privacy for electronic health information. APsaA's full letter of request to the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is available by clicking here. (http://www.apsa.org/Portals/1/docs/Advocacy/EnergyCommLetter072108.pdf)
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Accordingly, in the interest of preserving quality health care and developing a national electronic health information system that the public will accept, APsaA asks that the PRO(TECH)T Act include at least the following provisions:
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-- Recognition of the individual's right to privacy for his or her health information;
-- Recognition of the right of consent for routine disclosures other than those required by law;
-- Preservation of the psychotherapist-patient privilege on the federal and state levels; and
-- Preservation of the right of the individual to pay out of pocket and not have information about those health services disclosed without patient consent, unless otherwise required by law.
Founded in 1911, APsaA is a professional organization of psychoanalysts throughout the United States. The Association is composed of Affiliate Societies and Training Institutes in many cities and has approximately 3,300 individual members.
APsaA is a regional association of the International Psychoanalytical Association.
SOURCE American Psychoanalytic Association
