The following statement is attributable to:
Bobby Mukkamala, M.D.
President-elect, American Medical Association
“The American Medical Association (AMA) appreciates the Biden administration’s work to clarify privacy protections applicable to reproductive health care information by including a new information blocking exception in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s (ONC) proposed Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) Rule released today. Through the new Protecting Care Access Exception, ONC has taken steps to provide physicians and patients with more certainty about information blocking practices and when it is appropriate to decline to share an individual’s reproductive health care-related information. Creating this exception in full alignment with HIPAA is a positive step. The AMA also agrees with ONC about the importance of addressing the changes in the legal landscape that have created uncertainties for many patients seeking—and for health care providers providing—reproductive health care. The AMA is grateful our concerns were heard, and we look forward to continuing to work with ONC and across HHS to ensure that information sharing policies protect a patient’s personal health care information and preserve trust in our health care system.”
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
