News in brief - Sept. 25, 2006
Industry groups offer guidance on personal health records -
Aetna, RediClinic strike reimbursement deal
Industry groups offer guidance on personal health records
The American Medical Informatics Assn. and the American Health Information Management Assn. on Sep. 7 issued guidelines to ensure the confidentiality of online personal health information.
Any organization that electronically stores and accesses patient-identifiable information should clearly inform patients about their rights, obligations and the laws that govern the protection and use of their personal information, according to the guidelines. Other guidelines call for the organizations to notify patients about their privacy practices and rights in case of privacy and security breaches, and offer them a convenient, affordable mechanism to inspect, copy or amend their information. A complete list of the guidelines can be accessed at AMIA's Web site (www.amia.org/inside/releases/2006/amia-ahima_confidentialitypressrelease.pdf).
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Aetna, RediClinic strike reimbursement deal
Aetna announced on Sept. 1 that it will reimburse patients who seek treatment at RediClinic, which operates health clinics staffed by nurse practitioners inside pharmacies, supermarkets and retail stores in Arkansas, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. Earlier this year, the insurer began reimbursing members who visit MinuteClinic, another operator of in-store clinics. RediClinic is owned by InterFit Health, Houston.
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Copyright 2006 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
