Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008

Rhode Island's recent legislation should help instill confidence in their Health Information Exchange. SV

The Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008 creates a set of critical patient safeguards, many of which go well beyond existing state and federal privacy and data security protections. Baseline consumer protections in the bill include:

.Clear language that participation in the HIE is voluntary – both consumers and providers get to choose whether or not to participate
.The ability to obtain a copy of confidential health care information in the HIE
.The ability to obtain a copy of a Disclosure Report detailing what entities have accessed a patient’s confidential health care information in the HIE
.Notification of any breach of security of the HIE
.The right to terminate participation in the HIE
.The right to request that inaccurate HIE information be corrected
.Strong data security procedures
.The creation of an HIE Advisory Commission to provide community input into the use of confidential health care information in the HIE


Rhode Island