[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19488-19504]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Mr. Schumer, and Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 1811. A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to assess 
and reduce the levels of lead found in child-occupied facilities in the 
United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environmental and Public Works.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Lead 
Poisoning Reduction Act.
  Two weeks ago, the Washington Post featured an article on lead 
research by the economist Rick Nevin. Mr. Nevin's work demonstrates a 
strong link between lead exposure and criminal activity in our country. 
Specifically, he found that national spikes in rates of children with 
lead poisoning were significantly correlated with spikes in criminal 
activity two decades later. Notably, this finding was not unique to the 
U.S., he found a similar association in 9 other countries, despite 
differences in economics, demographics, and values. Although many 
readers, myself included, were surprised by Nevin's findings, the 
scientific community was not, having known for many years that lead 
poisoning leads to irrevocable, toxic effects on brain development of 
young children. These effects lead to changes such as impulsivity and 
impaired cognition, which appear to contribute to criminal behavior in 
later years.
  Mr. Nevin's work underscores the critical importance of eliminating 
lead poisoning in children, which is completely preventable and has 
tragic consequences. In the U.S., over 300,000 children have blood lead 
levels of 10 micrograms or higher, the level traditionally considered 
to indicate ``lead poisoning''. Yet, even this level is now considered 
unsafe as newer research has indicated that lead-related damage starts 
at much lower levels. We must remain vigilant in tackling all sources 
of lead exposure, to save future generations of children from harm, and 
the Lead Poisoning Reduction Act will help to do just that.
  The major source of lead exposure among U.S. children is lead-based 
paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings. The 
Lead Poisoning Reduction Act will provide $42.6 million in grants to 
communities that wish to develop and implement lead amelioration 
programs for their childcare facilities. It directs EPA to promulgate 
regulations within 18 months that require new child-occupied facilities 
to be certified lead-safe before opening for business. Additionally, 
EPA would also promulgate regulations within 5 years of enactment to 
require that all non-home-based childcare facilities be lead-safe. 
Further, my bill requires EPA to conduct a study of State, tribal and 
local programs designed to protect children from lead exposure in 
child-occupied facilities; to establish baseline studies, based on the 
results of this study; and to create a model program, that can be 
adapted for use by State, tribal and community officials, for testing, 
abatement, and communication of risks of lead to children and parents.
  Reducing lead hazards in our communities, especially in child-
occupied facilities, is critical, with impact reaching beyond 
individual children in preschools in any given city, to our society as 
a whole. It is the right thing to do, and the smart thing to do, and it 
should have been done years ago.
  I call on my colleagues to support the Lead Protection Reduction Act, 
which will help to ensure that every child has access to safe, lead-
free childcare facilities in this Nation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Akaka, and Mr. 
        Bayh):
  S. 1812. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to strengthen mentoring programs, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, research indicates a caring adult can 
make a difference in a child's future. Today, I am pleased to introduce 
legislation that will expand the mentoring programs found in the No 
Child Left Behind Act. If adopted, the Mentoring America's Children Act 
of 2007 would help close America's ``mentoring gap'' and match more at-
risk students with high-quality mentors. I thank my colleagues, 
Senators Kerry, Akaka, and Bayh, for joining me on this important 
legislation.
  Mentoring programs are a cost-effective way to expand a young 
person's ability for success. Studies have shown young people with 
mentors perform better in school and are more likely to graduate and go 
on to higher education. Mentors also play a role in improving the 
social and emotional well-being and reducing the negative behaviors of 
the children they mentor.
  Despite the positive effects of having a mentor, nearly 15 million 
young adults are still in need of mentoring. These young people 
encompass America's ``mentoring gap.'' That is why I have joined with 
my colleagues to introduce the Mentoring America's Children Act of 
2007.
  This legislation broadens the reach of mentoring to include specific 
populations of young people who could particularly benefit from a 
mentor's involvement, including children in foster care and kids in 
communities with a high rate of youth suicides. It also provides much 
needed training and technical assistance to grantees, tracks youth 
outcomes, strengthens research on the effects of mentoring, and 
improves the sustainability of grant recipients. Finally, this bill 
allows students to gain professional skills while working with mentors 
by establishing internship programs during the school year.
  Mentoring plays a key role in improving the learning environment for 
a young person, as mentored youth have better attendance and are more 
connected to their school, schoolwork, and teachers. Mentors serve as 
role models, advisors, and advocates for the children they mentor. We 
must work together to match even more high-quality mentors with our 
neediest children.
  This legislation is supported by MENTOR/National Mentoring 
Partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the National 
Collaboration for Youth. I ask my colleagues to join me in approving 
this legislation.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, our Nation's children are our greatest 
resource. They represent the future of this country and we should do 
everything we can to foster their growth and ensure they lead happy and 
productive lives. That is why I am proud to cosponsor the Mentoring 
America's Children Act of 2007 which was introduced today by Senator 
Clinton. This important legislation highlights the significant impact 
mentoring can have on a child.
  Research has shown time and time again that mentoring is an important 
component to a child's development. Often these children come from 
broken homes or communities affected by violence. The relationship 
formed between a mentor and a child helps support their studies in 
school, their relationships with their families at home, and gives them 
the confidence they need to withstand the pressures they are faced 
with. Our children are confronted with much more than some of us even 
realize. By providing a mentor, parents and teachers have another line 
of defense in allowing our children to grow up in a safe nurturing 
environment.
  The consequences of letting young people grow up without a support 
system are dire. In 2006 America's law enforcement officers arrested 
approximately 250 teens an hour, and it's estimated that 900,000 of our 
children are victims of abuse and neglect. Studies show that most teens 
that use alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana do so before they are 14. 
This is unacceptable. We must do more to foster these children so they 
stay in school, keep clean and out of trouble.
  Mentoring can help improve the social and mental well being of a 
child so they can deal with the myriad of challenges they face. 
Massachusetts has

[[Page 19489]]

many notable mentoring programs that have affected thousands of 
children's lives. Strong Women, Strong Girls is a program started by a 
Harvard graduate that matches local university women with girls in 
targeted communities to help create another generation of strong women 
through mentoring. The Boys and Girls Club has a long and storied 
history in my State as does the Big Brother Big Sister program. A study 
of Brother Big Sister showed that children that benefited from their 
program were 46 percent less likely to use drugs, 52 percent less 
likely to skip school and have fewer conflicts with their families.
  The Mentoring America's Children Act would help these programs and 
others like them across the country. It builds on the mentoring 
programs already put in place in the No Child Left Behind Act by 
ensuring that they are as effective as possible. The bill provides for 
additional training and technical resources as well as studies the 
efficacy of these various programs. More importantly, it widens the net 
of children that can be helped by mentors by focusing on children in 
the foster care system and those that live in communities with high 
suicide rates. We should be focusing our energies on helping the 
children most in need and providing them with mentors that can enrich 
their lives and help them succeed.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 1814. A bill to provide individuals with access to health 
information of which they are a subject, ensure personal privacy with 
respect to health related information, promote the use of non-
identifiable information for health research, impose criminal and civil 
penalties for unauthorized use of protected health information, to 
provide for the strong enforcement of these rights, and to protect 
States' rights; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join Senator Kennedy, 
the distinguished Chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor 
Pensions, in introducing the Health Information Privacy and Security 
Act of 2007, HIPSA. This comprehensive health privacy bill will ensure 
the right to privacy with respect to health information for millions of 
Americans.
  In America today, if you have a health record, you have a health 
privacy problem. The explosion of electronic health records, digital 
databases and the Internet is fueling a growing supply and demand for 
Americans' health information. The ability to easily access this 
information electronically, often by the click of a mouse, or a few key 
strokes on a computer, can be very useful in providing more cost-
effective health care. But, the use of advancing technologies to access 
and share health information can also lead to a loss of personal 
privacy.
  In the Information Age, the traditional right and expectation of 
confidentiality between patient and doctor is at great risk. Without 
adequate safeguards to protect health privacy, many Americans will 
simply not seek the medical treatment that they need, nor agree to 
participate in health research, because they fear that their sensitive 
health information will be disclosed without then consent or knowledge. 
And those who do seek medical treatment must assume the risk of the 
unauthorized disclosure of their health information due to a data 
security breach or other privacy violation. The loss of health privacy 
is a growing threat to our national health care system that the 
Congress must address.
  Senator Kennedy and I both firmly believe that a fear of a loss of 
privacy cannot be allowed to deter Americans from seeking medical 
treatment. We are introducing this legislation today to close the 
privacy gap with respect to Americans' electronic health information.
  A guiding principle in drafting our health privacy bill has been that 
the American people will only support efforts to move toward health 
information technology if they are assured that their sensitive health 
information will be protected from unauthorized disclosure and from the 
growing dangers of identity crimes posed by data security breaches. The 
bill that we are introducing today takes several important steps to 
honor this principle and to protect the health privacy of all 
Americans.
  First, our bill guarantees the right of every American to privacy and 
security with respect to the use and disclosure of their health 
information. Under this legislation, every individual has the right to 
inspect and copy his or her own health records and to receive notice of 
the privacy rights and practices of data brokers and others who store 
this information in electronic databases. Our bill also ensures the 
security of electronic health information by requiring that data 
brokers establish safeguards to secure health information from data 
security breaches and other unauthorized disclosures.
  Second, our bill places meaningful restrictions on the disclosure of 
sensitive health information. The bill expressly prohibits the 
disclosure or use of health information without a patient's 
authorization and requires that any health information intended to be 
used for medical research first be stripped of personally identifying 
information to protect an individual's privacy. There are exceptions to 
these restrictions for law enforcement, public safety and national 
security purposes.
  Our bill also requires that patients be notified of a data security 
breach involving their health information within 15 days of discovery 
of the breach. The bill provides for important exceptions to this 
notice requirement for law enforcement and national security reasons.
  Thirdly, our bill addresses the growing fear of many Americans that 
they will not be able to obtain important health information about a 
parent or child in situations involving a medical emergency, because of 
confusion about the requirements of current health privacy laws. The 
New York Times recently reported that many health care providers are 
overzealously applying health privacy laws, such as the Health 
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA, thwarting the 
legitimate efforts of family members, caretakers and even law 
enforcement to obtain critical health information about patients in 
their care. Our bill expressly allows health care providers to disclose 
health information to law enforcement for legitimate purposes and to a 
patient's next of kin, provided that the patient has been notified of 
their right to object to such disclosure. The bill also establishes a 
national office of health information privacy within the Department of 
Health and Human Services to aid American consumers in learning about 
their health privacy rights.
  Lastly, our bill contains meaningful civil and criminal enforcement 
provisions to discourage and punish the wrongful disclosure of 
Americans' sensitive health information. The bill makes it a Federal 
crime to knowingly and intentionally disclose or use sensitive health 
information without an individual's consent. Violators of this 
provision are subject to a criminal penalty of up to $500,000 and up to 
10 years in prison, if the violation is committed with the intent to 
sell or use sensitive health information for economic gain. In 
addition, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to file a civil 
action in Federal district court to obtain civil penalties from 
entities that fail to adequately safeguard electronic health records, 
or to provide consumers with information about their health privacy 
rights.
  Senator Kennedy and I have worked on this legislation for more than a 
decade and we both understand the need to carefully balance the right 
to health privacy with the legitimate needs of health care providers, 
medical researchers and public health and law enforcement officials. 
Our bill strikes the right balance between protecting privacy and 
ensuring public safety.
  We have also conferred extensively with the many stakeholders in the 
health care community in crafting this legislation and our bill is 
supported by a wide range of public policy, consumer and health care 
organizations from across the political spectrum.

[[Page 19490]]

  Senator Kennedy and I believe that the right to health privacy is of 
vital interest to all Americans. For this reason, and on behalf of the 
millions of Americans who are currently at risk of either foregoing 
medical treatment or losing their right to health privacy, I urge all 
Senators to join us in supporting this important privacy legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and a copy of the 
July 3, 2007, the New York Times article entitled ``Keeping Patients' 
Details Private, Even From Kin,'' be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1814

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Health 
     Information Privacy and Security Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.

                      TITLE I--INDIVIDUALS' RIGHTS

   Subtitle A--Rights of the Subjects of Protected Health Information

Sec. 101. Right to privacy and security.
Sec. 102. Inspection and copying of protected health information.
Sec. 103. Modifications to protected health information.
Sec. 104. Notice of privacy practices.
Sec. 105. Demonstration grant.

                Subtitle B--Establishment of Safeguards

Sec. 111. Establishment of safeguards.
Sec. 112. Transparency.
Sec. 113. Risk management.
Sec. 114. Accounting for disclosures and use.

              TITLE II--RESTRICTIONS ON USE AND DISCLOSURE

         Subtitle A--General Restrictions on Use and Disclosure

Sec. 201. General rules regarding use and disclosure.
Sec. 202. Informed consent for disclosure of protected health 
              information for treatment and payment.
Sec. 203. Authorizations for disclosure of protected health information 
              other than for treatment or payment.
Sec. 204. Notification in the case of breach.

           Subtitle B--Disclosure Under Special Circumstances

Sec. 211. Emergency circumstances.
Sec. 212. Public health.
Sec. 213. Protection and advocacy agencies.
Sec. 214. Oversight.
Sec. 215. Disclosure for law enforcement, national security, and 
              intelligence purposes.
Sec. 216. Next of kin and directory information.
Sec. 217. Health research.
Sec. 218. Judicial and administrative purposes.
Sec. 219. Individual representatives.

 TITLE III--OFFICE OF HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                       HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                        Subtitle A--Designation

Sec. 301. Designation.

                        Subtitle B--Enforcement

                     Chapter 1--Criminal Provisions

Sec. 311. Wrongful disclosure of protected health information.
Sec. 312. Debarment for crimes and civil violations.

                       Chapter 2--Civil Sanctions

Sec. 321. Civil penalty.
Sec. 322. Procedures for imposition of penalties.
Sec. 323. Civil action by individuals.
Sec. 324. Enforcement by State attorneys general.
Sec. 325. Protection for whistleblower.

                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 401. Relationship to other laws.
Sec. 402. Effective date.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are as follows:
       (1) To recognize that individuals have a right to privacy, 
     confidentiality, and security with respect to health 
     information, including genetic information, and that those 
     rights must be protected.
       (2) To create incentives to turn protected health 
     information into de-identified health information, where 
     appropriate.
       (3) To designate an Office of Health Information Privacy 
     within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect 
     that right of privacy.
       (4) To provide individuals with--
       (A) access to health information of which they are the 
     subject; and
       (B) the opportunity to challenge the accuracy and 
     completeness of such information by being able to file 
     modifications to or request the deletion of such information.
       (5) To provide individuals with the right to limit the use 
     and disclosure of protected health information.
       (6) To establish strong and effective mechanisms to protect 
     against the unauthorized and inappropriate use of protected 
     health information.
       (7) To invoke the sweep of congressional powers, including 
     the power to enforce the 14th amendment to the Constitution, 
     to regulate commerce, and to abrogate the immunity of the 
     States under the 11th amendment to the Constitution, in order 
     to address violations of the rights of individuals to 
     privacy, to provide individuals with access to their health 
     information, and to prevent the unauthorized use of protected 
     health information that is genetic information.
       (8) To establish strong and effective remedies for 
     violations of this Act.
       (9) To protect the rights of States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Administrative billing information.--The term 
     ``administrative billing information'' means any of the 
     following forms of protected health information:
       (A) Date of service, policy, patient identifiers, and 
     practitioner or facility identifiers.
       (B) Diagnostic codes, in accordance with medicare billing 
     codes, for which treatment is being rendered or requested.
       (C) Complexity of service codes, indicating duration of 
     treatment.
       (D) Total billed charges.
       (2) Agent.--The term ``agent'' means a person that 
     represents or acts for another person (a principal) under a 
     contract or relationship of agency, or that functions to 
     bring about, modify, affect, accept performance of, or 
     terminate, contractual obligations between the principal and 
     a third person. With respect to an employer, the term 
     includes the employees of the employer.
       (3) Authorization.--The term ``authorization'' means the 
     authority granted by an individual that is the subject of 
     protected health information, in accordance with title II, 
     for the disclosure of the individual's protected health 
     information.
       (4) Authorized recipient.--The term ``authorized 
     recipient'' means a person granted the authority by an 
     individual, in accordance with title II, to access, maintain, 
     retain, modify, record, store, destroy, or otherwise use the 
     individual's protected health information through an 
     authorized disclosure.
       (5) Breach.--The term ``breach'' means the unauthorized 
     acquisition, disclosure, or loss of protected health 
     information which compromises the security, privacy, or 
     integrity of protected health information maintained by or on 
     behalf of a person.
       (6) Confidentiality.--The term ``confidentiality'' means 
     the obligations of those who receive information to respect 
     the privacy interests of those to whom the data relate.
       (7) Data broker.--The term ``data broker'' means a data 
     bank, data warehouse, information clearinghouse, record 
     locator system, or other business entity, which for monetary 
     fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, engages in 
     the practice of accessing, collecting, maintaining, 
     modifying, storing, recording, transmitting, destroying, or 
     otherwise using or disclosing the protected health 
     information of individuals. Any person maintaining protected 
     health information for the purposes of making such 
     information available to the individual or the health care 
     provider, including persons furnishing free or paid personal 
     health records, electronic health records, electronic medical 
     records, and related products and services, shall be deemed 
     to be a data broker subject to the requirements of this Act.
       (8) De-identified health information.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``de-identified health 
     information'' means any protected health information, with 
     respect to which--
       (i) all personal identifiers, or other information that may 
     be used by itself or in combination with other information 
     which may be available to re-identify the subject of the 
     information, have been removed;
       (ii) a good faith effort has been made to evaluate, 
     minimize, and mitigate the risks of re-identification of the 
     subject of such information, using commonly accepted 
     scientific and statistical standards and methods for 
     minimizing risk of disclosure; and
       (iii) there is no reasonable basis to believe that the 
     information can be used to identify an individual.
       (B) Examples.--Such term includes aggregate statistics, 
     redacted health information, information in which random or 
     fictitious alternatives have been substituted for personally 
     identifiable information, and information in which personally 
     identifiable information has been encrypted and the 
     decryption key is maintained only by persons otherwise 
     authorized to have access to such protected health 
     information in an identifiable format.
       (9) Disclose.--The term ``disclose'' means to release, 
     publish, share, transfer, transmit, disseminate, show, permit 
     access to, communicate (orally or otherwise), re-identify, or 
     otherwise divulge protected health information to any person 
     other than the individual who is the subject of such 
     information. Such term includes the initial disclosure and 
     any subsequent redisclosure of protected health information.
       (10) Decryption key.--The term ``decryption key'' means the 
     variable information used in or produced by a mathematical 
     formula, code, or algorithm, or any

[[Page 19491]]

     component thereof, used for encryption or decryption of wire, 
     electronic, or other communications or stored information.
       (11) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means a person that 
     is engaged in business affecting commerce and that has 
     employees.
       (12) Encryption.--The term ``encryption''--
       (A) means the protection of data in electronic form, in 
     storage or in transit, using an encryption technology that 
     has been adopted by an established standards setting body 
     which renders such data indecipherable in the absence of 
     associated cryptographic keys necessary to enable decryption 
     of such data; and
       (B) includes appropriate management and safeguards of such 
     cryptographic keys so as to protect the integrity of the 
     encryption.
       (13) Health care.--The term ``health care'' means--
       (A) preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, 
     maintenance, or palliative care, including appropriate 
     assistance with disease or symptom management and 
     maintenance, counseling, service, or procedure--
       (i) with respect to the physical or mental condition of an 
     individual; or
       (ii) affecting the structure or function of the human body 
     or any part of the human body, including the banking of 
     blood, sperm, organs, or any other tissue.
       (B) any sale or dispensing of a drug, device, equipment, or 
     other health care-related item to an individual, or for the 
     use of an individual, pursuant to a prescription.
       (14) Health care provider.--The term ``health care 
     provider'' means a person that, with respect to a specific 
     item of protected health information, receives, accesses, 
     maintains, retains, modifies, records, stores, destroys, or 
     otherwise uses or discloses the information while acting in 
     whole or in part in the capacity of--
       (A) an entity that is, or holds itself out to be, licensed, 
     certified, registered, or otherwise authorized by Federal or 
     State law to provide an item or service that constitutes 
     health care in the ordinary course of business, or practice 
     of a profession;
       (B) contractors and other health care providers or 
     facilities authorized to provide items or services related to 
     diagnosis or treatment of a health concern, including 
     hospitals, nursing facilities, allied health professionals, 
     and facilities used or maintained by allied health 
     professionals;
       (C) a Federal or State program that directly provides items 
     or services that constitute health care to beneficiaries;
       (D) an officer or employee or agent of a person described 
     in subparagraph (A) or (C) who is engaged in the provision of 
     health care or who uses health information; or
       (E) medical personnel in an emergency situation, including 
     while communicating protected health information by radio 
     transmission or other means.
       (15) Health or life insurer.--The term ``health or life 
     insurer'' means a health insurance issuer (as defined in 
     section 9805(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or a 
     life insurance company (as defined in section 816 of such 
     Code) and includes the employees and agents of such a person.
       (16) Health oversight agency.--The term ``health oversight 
     agency''--
       (A) means a person that--
       (i) performs or oversees the performance of an assessment, 
     investigation, or prosecution relating to compliance with 
     legal or fiscal standards relating to health care fraud or 
     fraudulent claims regarding health care, health services or 
     equipment, or related activities and items; and
       (ii) is a public executive branch agency, acting on behalf 
     of a public executive branch agency, acting pursuant to a 
     requirement of a public executive branch agency, or carrying 
     out activities under a Federal or State law governing an 
     assessment, evaluation, determination, investigation, or 
     prosecution described in clause (i); and
       (B) includes the employees and agents of such a person.
       (17) Health plan.--The term ``health plan'' has the meaning 
     given such term for purposes of the regulations promulgated 
     under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and 
     Accountability Act of 1996.
       (18) Health record set.--The term ``health record set'' 
     means any item, collection, or grouping of information that 
     includes protected health information, such as an electronic 
     health record, electronic medical record, personal health 
     record, or account of disclosure, use or access, that is 
     created, accessed, received, maintained, retained, modified, 
     recorded, stored, destroyed, or otherwise used or disclosed 
     by a health care provider, employer, insurer, health plan, 
     health researcher, school or university, data broker, or 
     other person.
       (19) Health researcher.--The term ``health researcher'' 
     means a person that, with respect to a specific item of 
     protected health information, receives the information--
       (A) pursuant to section 217 (relating to health research); 
     or
       (B) while acting in whole or in part in the capacity of an 
     officer, employee, or agent of a person that receives the 
     information pursuant to such section.
       (20) Informed consent.--The term ``informed consent'' means 
     the authorization for use or disclosure of protected health 
     information by the individual who is the subject of such 
     information, conditioned upon that individual's having been 
     informed of the nature and probability of harm to the 
     individual resulting from such authorization.
       (21) Law enforcement inquiry.--The term ``law enforcement 
     inquiry'' means a lawful executive branch investigation or 
     official proceeding inquiring into a violation of, or failure 
     to comply with, any criminal or civil statute or any 
     regulation, rule, or order issued pursuant to such a statute.
       (22) Office of health information privacy.--The term 
     ``Office of Health Information Privacy'' means the Office of 
     Health Information Privacy designated under section 301.
       (23) Person.--The term ``person'' means an entity that is a 
     government, governmental subdivision of an executive branch 
     agency or authority, corporation, company, association, firm, 
     partnership, society, estate, trust, joint venture, 
     individual, individual representative, tribal government, and 
     any other legal entity. Such term also includes the 
     employees, contractors, agents, and affiliates of all legal 
     entities described in the preceding sentence, whether or not 
     they are acting in the capacity of their employment, 
     contract, agency, or affiliation.
       (24) Privacy.--The term ``privacy'' means an individual's 
     right to control the acquisition, uses, or disclosures of his 
     or her identifiable health data.
       (25) Protected health information.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``protected health information'' 
     means any information, including genetic information, 
     biometric information, demographic information, and tissue 
     samples collected from an individual, whether oral or 
     recorded in any form or medium, that--
       (i) is created or received by a health care provider, 
     health researcher, health plan, health or life insurer, 
     medical or health savings plan administrator, school or 
     university, health care clearinghouse, health oversight 
     agency, public health authority, employer, data broker, or 
     other person or such person's agent, officer, or employee; 
     and
       (ii)(I) relates to the past, present, or future physical or 
     mental health or condition of an individual (including 
     individual cells and their components), the provision of 
     health care to an individual, or the past, present, or future 
     payment for the provision of health care to an individual; 
     and
       (II)(aa) identifies an individual; or
       (bb) with respect to which there is a reasonable basis to 
     believe that the information can be used to identify an 
     individual.
       (B) Decryption key.--The term ``protected health 
     information'' includes any information described in paragraph 
     (8).
       (26) Public health authority.--The term ``public health 
     authority'' means an authority or instrumentality of the 
     United States, a tribal government, a State, or a political 
     subdivision of a State that is--
       (A) primarily responsible for public health matters; and
       (B) primarily engaged in activities such as injury 
     reporting, public health surveillance, and public health 
     investigation or intervention.
       (27) Re-identify.--The term ``re-identify'', when used with 
     respect to de-identified health information, means an 
     attempt, successful or otherwise, to ascertain--
       (A) the identity of the individual who is the subject of 
     such information; or
       (B) the decryption key with respect to the information 
     (when undertaken with knowledge that such key would allow for 
     the identification of the individual who is the subject of 
     such information).
       (28) School or university.--The term ``school or 
     university'' means an institution or place for instruction or 
     education, including an elementary school, secondary school, 
     or institution of higher education, a college, or an 
     assemblage of colleges united under one corporate 
     organization or government.
       (29) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.
       (30) Security.--The term ``security'' means physical, 
     technological, or administrative safeguards or tools used to 
     protect identifiable health data from unwarranted access or 
     disclosure.
       (31) Security breach.--The term ``security breach'' means 
     the physical, structural, or substantive compromise of the 
     security of protected health information, through 
     unauthorized disclosure, use, or access, whether actual or 
     attempted, resulting in the acquisition, access, or use of 
     such information by an unauthorized person. Such term does 
     not apply to good faith or accidental acquisition, or 
     disclosure of protected health information by an unauthorized 
     person, so long as no further use or disclosure is made by 
     such person.
       (32) State.--The term ``State'' includes the District of 
     Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
     Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
       (33) To the maximum extent practicable.--The term ``to the 
     maximum extent practicable'' means the level of compliance 
     that a reasonable person would deem technologically feasible 
     so long as such feasibility is periodically evaluated in 
     light of scientific advances.

[[Page 19492]]

       (34) Use.--The term ``use'' means to create, record, 
     collect, access, obtain, store, maintain, amend, correct, 
     restore, modify, supplement, identify, re-identify, employ, 
     apply, utilize, examine, analyze, detect, remove, destroy, 
     dispose of, account for, or monitor the flow of protected 
     health information.
       (35) Writing.--The term ``writing'' means writing in either 
     a paper-based or computer-based form, including electronic 
     and digital signatures.

                      TITLE I--INDIVIDUALS' RIGHTS

   Subtitle A--Rights of the Subjects of Protected Health Information

     SEC. 101. RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND SECURITY.

       (a) In General.--Individuals who are the subject of 
     protected health information have the right to--
       (1) privacy and security with respect to the use and 
     disclosure of such information;
       (2) control and withhold protected health information of 
     which they are the subject; and
       (3) exercise nondisclosure and nonuse rights (referred to 
     in this Act as ``opt-out'') with respect to their protected 
     health information, including the right to opt out of any 
     local, regional, or nationwide health information network or 
     system that is used by the person.
       (b) Obligations.--A person that discloses, uses, or 
     receives an individual's protected health information shall 
     expressly recognize the right to privacy and security of such 
     individual with respect to the use and disclosure of such 
     information.

     SEC. 102. INSPECTION AND COPYING OF PROTECTED HEALTH 
                   INFORMATION.

       (a) Right of Individual.--
       (1) In general.--A person, including a health care 
     provider, health researcher, health plan, health or life 
     insurer, medical or health savings plan administrator, school 
     or university, health care clearinghouse, health oversight 
     agency, public health authority, employer, or data broker, or 
     such person's agent, officer, employee, or affiliate, that 
     accesses, maintains, retains, modifies, records, stores, or 
     otherwise holds, uses, or discloses protected health 
     information, shall permit an individual who is the subject of 
     such protected health information, or the individual's 
     designee, to inspect and copy the protected health 
     information concerning the individual, including records 
     created under sections 102, 112, 202, 203, and 211.
       (2) Procedures and fees.--A person described in paragraph 
     (1) may establish appropriate procedures to be followed for 
     inspection and copying under such paragraph and may require 
     an individual to pay reasonable fees associated with such 
     inspection and copying in an amount that is not in excess of 
     the actual costs of providing such copying. Such fees may not 
     be assessed where such an assessment would have the effect of 
     inhibiting an individual from gaining access to the 
     information described in paragraph (1).
       (b) Deadline.--A person described in subsection (a)(1) 
     shall comply with a request for inspection or copying of 
     protected health information under this section not later 
     than--
       (1) 15 business days after the date on which the person 
     receives the request, if such request requires the 
     inspection, copying, or sending of printed materials; or
       (2) 5 business days after the date on which the person 
     receives the request, or sooner if the Secretary determines 
     appropriate, if such request requires only the inspection, 
     copying, or sending of electronic or other digital materials.
       (c) Rules Governing Agents.--A person that is the agent, 
     officer, or employee of a person described in subsection (a) 
     shall provide for the inspection and copying of protected 
     health information if--
       (1) the protected health information is retained by the 
     person; and
       (2) the person has been asked by the person described in 
     subsection (a)(1) to fulfill the requirements of this 
     section.
       (d) Special Rule Relating to Ongoing Clinical Trials.--With 
     respect to protected health information that is created as 
     part of an individual's participation in an ongoing clinical 
     trial, access to the information shall be provided consistent 
     with the individual's agreement to participate in the 
     clinical trial.

     SEC. 103. MODIFICATIONS TO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 15 business days, or 
     earlier if the Secretary determines appropriate, after the 
     date on which a person described in section 102(a)(1) 
     receives from an individual a request in writing to 
     supplement, correct, amend, segregate, or remove protected 
     health information concerning the individual, such person--
       (1) shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), modify the 
     information, by adding the requested supplement, correction, 
     or amendment to the information, or by removing any 
     information that has been requested to be destroyed;
       (2) shall inform the individual that the modification has 
     been made; and
       (3) shall make reasonable efforts to inform any person to 
     which the portion of the unmodified information was 
     previously disclosed, of any substantive modification that 
     has been made.
       (b) Refusal to Modify.--If a person described in subsection 
     (a) declines to make the modification requested under such 
     subsection within 15 business days after receipt of such 
     request, such person shall inform the individual in writing 
     of--
       (1) the reasons for declining to make the modification;
       (2) any procedures for further review of the declining of 
     such modification; and
       (3) the individual's right to file with the person a 
     concise statement setting forth the requested modification 
     and the individual's reasons for disagreeing with the 
     declining person and the individual's right to include a copy 
     of this refusal in the health record set concerning the 
     individual.
       (c) Statement of Disagreement.--If an individual has filed 
     with a person a statement of disagreement under subsection 
     (b)(3), the person, in any subsequent disclosure of the 
     disputed portion of the information--
       (1) shall include, at the individual's request, a copy of 
     the individual's statement in the individual's health record 
     set; and
       (2) may include a concise statement of the reasons for not 
     making the requested modification.
       (d) Rules Governing Agents.--A person that is the agent of 
     a person described in subsection (a) shall only be required 
     to make a modification to protected health information 
     where--
       (1) the protected health information is retained, 
     distributed, used, or maintained by the agent; and
       (2) the agent has been asked by such person to fulfill the 
     requirements of this section.
       (e) Notification of Loss or Corruption.--Not later than 15 
     business days, or earlier if the Secretary determines 
     appropriate, after the date on which a person described in 
     subsection (a) discovers loss or corruption of health record 
     sets or protected health information under its management, or 
     if such person has reason to believe that its database has 
     been compromised, such person shall--
       (1) notify individuals whose records have been affected;
       (2) notify persons and the agents of persons that receive, 
     access, maintain, retain, modify, record, store, destroy, or 
     otherwise use or disclose such data; and
       (3) repair or restore corrupted data to the extent 
     practicable.

     SEC. 104. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES.

       (a) Preparation of Written Notice.--A person described in 
     section 102(a)(1) shall prepare a written notice of the 
     privacy practices of such person, including information with 
     respect to the following:
       (1) The express right of an individual to privacy, 
     security, and confidentiality with respect to the electronic 
     disclosure of such individual's protected health information;
       (2) The procedures for an individual to authorize 
     disclosures of protected health information, and to object 
     to, modify, and revoke such authorizations.
       (3) The right of an individual to inspect, copy, and modify 
     that individual's protected health information.
       (4) The right of an individual not to have employment or 
     the receipt of services or choice of health plan conditioned 
     upon the execution by the individual of an authorization for 
     disclosure.
       (5) A description of the categories or types of employees, 
     by general category or by general job description, who have 
     access to or use of protected health information regarding 
     the individual.
       (6) A simple, concise description of any information 
     systems used to store or transmit protected health 
     information, including a description of any linkages made 
     with other networks, systems, or databases outside the 
     person's direct control.
       (7) The right of and procedures for an individual to 
     request segregation of protected health information, and to 
     restrict the use of such information by employees, agents, 
     and contractors of a person.
       (8) The circumstances under which the information will be, 
     lawfully and actually, used or disclosed without an 
     authorization executed by the individual.
       (9) A statement that, if an individual elects to pay for 
     health care from the individual's own funds, that individual 
     may elect for identifying information not to be disclosed to 
     anyone other than designated health care providers, unless 
     such disclosure is required by mandatory reporting 
     requirements or other similar information collection duties 
     required by law.
       (10) The right of the individual to have continued 
     maintenance, distribution, or storage of that individual's 
     personal health information not conditioned upon whether that 
     individual amends or revokes an authorization for disclosure, 
     or requests a modification of protected health information.
       (11) The right of and procedures for an individual to 
     request that protected health information be transferred to a 
     third party person without unreasonable delay.
       (12) The right to prompt notification of an actual or 
     suspected security breach of protected health information, 
     and how such breaches will be remedied by the person.
       (13) The right of an individual to inspect and obtain a 
     copy of records of authorized and unauthorized disclosures as 
     well as attempted and actual access and use by an authorized 
     or unauthorized person.
       (14) The right of an individual to exercise nondisclosure 
     and nonuse rights (referred to

[[Page 19493]]

     in this Act as ``opt-out'') with respect to their protected 
     health information, including the right to opt out of any 
     local, regional, or nationwide health information network or 
     system that is used by the person.
       (b) Provision and Posting of Written Notice.--
       (1) Provision.--A person described in subsection (a) shall 
     provide a copy of the written notice of privacy practices 
     required under such subsection--
       (A) at the time an authorization is sought for the 
     disclosure of protected health information; and
       (B) upon the request of an individual.
       (2) Posting.--A person described in subsection (a) shall 
     post, in a clear and conspicuous manner, a brief summary of 
     the privacy practices of the person.
       (c) Model Notice.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Director of the Office of Health Information Privacy 
     appointed under section 301, after notice and opportunity for 
     public comment, shall develop and disseminate model notices 
     of privacy practices, and model summary notices for posting 
     for use under this section. Use of such model notice shall be 
     deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section.
       (d) Requirement for Opt-Out.--A person shall not access, 
     maintain, retain, modify, record, store, destroy, or 
     otherwise use or disclose an individual's protected health 
     information for other than treatment or payment purposes 
     until that individual has been given an opportunity, before 
     the time that such information is initially used or 
     disclosed, to direct that such information not be used or 
     disclosed. The individual must be given adequate time to 
     exercise the nondisclosure and nonuse option (referred to as 
     the ``opt-out'') through the method that is most convenient 
     to the individual, along with an explanation of how the 
     individual can exercise such option.

     SEC. 105. DEMONSTRATION GRANT.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award contracts or 
     competitive grants to eligible entities to support 
     demonstration projects that are designed to improve the 
     communication of information pertaining to health privacy 
     rights with individuals with limited English language 
     proficiency and limited health literacy.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section, to promote 
     the cultural competency of persons that access, maintain, 
     retain, modify, record, store, destroy, or otherwise use or 
     disclose protected health information, and to enable such 
     persons to better communicate privacy procedures to non-
     English speakers, those with limited English proficiency, and 
     those with limited health literacy.
       (c) Eligible Entities.--In this section, the term 
     ``eligible entity'' means an organization or community-based 
     consortium that includes--
       (1) individuals who are representatives of organizations 
     serving or advocating for ethnic and racial minorities, low 
     income immigrant populations, and others with limited English 
     language proficiency and limited health literacy;
       (2) health care providers that provide care for ethnic and 
     racial minorities, low income immigrant populations, and 
     others with limited English language proficiency and limited 
     health literacy;
       (3) community leaders and leaders of community-based 
     organizations; and
       (4) experts and researchers in the areas of social and 
     behavioral sciences, who have knowledge, training, or 
     practical experience in health policy, advocacy, cultural and 
     linguistic competency, or other relevant areas as determined 
     by the Secretary.
       (d) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a contract or 
     grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require.
       (e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use amounts 
     received under this section to carry out programs and studies 
     designed to help identify best practices in the communication 
     of privacy rights and procedures to ensure comprehension by 
     individuals with limited English proficiency and limited 
     health literacy.

                Subtitle B--Establishment of Safeguards

     SEC. 111. ESTABLISHMENT OF SAFEGUARDS.

       (a) In General.--A person described in section 102(a)(1) 
     shall establish and maintain appropriate administrative, 
     organizational, technical, and physical safeguards and 
     procedures to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, security, 
     accuracy, and integrity of protected health information that 
     is accessed, maintained, retained, modified, recorded, 
     stored, destroyed, or otherwise used or disclosed by such 
     person.
       (b) Factors To Be Considered.--The policies and safeguards 
     established under subsection (a) shall ensure that--
       (1) protected health information is used or disclosed only 
     with informed consent;
       (2) the categories of personnel who will have access to 
     protected health information are identified;
       (3) the feasibility of limiting access to protected health 
     information is considered;
       (4) the privacy, security and confidentiality of protected 
     health information is maintained;
       (5) protected health information is protected against any 
     anticipated vulnerabilities to the privacy, security, or 
     integrity of such information; and
       (6) protected health information is protected against 
     unauthorized access, use, or misuse of such information.
       (c) Model Guidelines.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Director of the Office of Health Information Privacy 
     appointed under section 301, after notice and opportunity for 
     public comment, shall develop and disseminate model 
     guidelines for the establishment of safeguards and procedures 
     for use under this section, such as, where appropriate, 
     individual authentication of uses of computer systems, access 
     controls, audit trails, encryption, physical security, 
     protection of remote access points and protection of external 
     electronic communications, periodic security assessments, 
     incident reports, and sanctions. The Director shall update 
     and disseminate the guidelines, as appropriate, to take 
     advantage of new technologies.
       (d) Review and Updating of Safeguards.--Persons subject to 
     this Act shall monitor, evaluate, and adjust, as appropriate, 
     all safeguards and procedures, concomitant with relevant 
     changes in technology, the sensitivity of personally 
     identifiable information, internal or external threats to 
     personally identifiable information, and any changes in the 
     contracts or business of the person. For the purpose of 
     reviewing and updating safeguards, the Secretary may provide 
     technical assistance to persons described in subsection (a), 
     as appropriate.

     SEC. 112. TRANSPARENCY.

       (a) Public List of Data Brokers.--A person described in 
     section 102(a)(1) shall establish a list of data brokers with 
     which such person has entered into a contract or relationship 
     for the purposes of providing services involving any 
     protected health information. Such list and the contact 
     information for each broker shall be made publicly accessible 
     on the Internet.
       (b) Subcontracting and Outsourcing Overseas.--In the event 
     a person subject to this Act contracts with service providers 
     not subject to this Act, including service providers 
     operating in a foreign country, such person shall--
       (1) take reasonable steps to select and retain third party 
     service providers capable of maintaining appropriate 
     safeguards for the security, privacy, and integrity of 
     protected health information;
       (2) require by contract that such service providers 
     implement and maintain appropriate measures designed to meet 
     the requirements of persons subject to this Act;
       (3) be held liable for any violation of this Act by an 
     overseas service provider or other provider not subject to 
     this law; and
       (4) in the case of a service provider operating in a 
     foreign country, obtain the informed consent of the 
     individual involved prior to outsourcing such individual's 
     protected health information to such provider.
       (c) List of Persons.--The Secretary shall maintain a public 
     list identifying persons described in section 102(a)(1) that 
     have lost, stolen, disclosed or used in an unauthorized 
     manner or for an unauthorized purpose the protected health 
     information of a significant number of individuals. The list 
     shall include how many individuals were affected by such 
     action.

     SEC. 113. RISK MANAGEMENT.

       (a) In General.--Persons described in section 102(a)(1) 
     that have access to protected health information shall 
     establish risk management and control processes to protect 
     against anticipated vulnerabilities to the privacy, security, 
     and integrity of protected health information.
       (b) Risk Assessment.--A person described in subsection (a) 
     shall perform annual risk assessments of procedures, systems, 
     or networks involved in the creation, accessing, maintenance, 
     retention, modification, recording, storage, distribution, 
     destruction, or other use or disclosure of personal health 
     information. Such risk assessment may include--
       (1) identifying reasonably foreseeable internal and 
     external vulnerabilities that could result in inaccuracy or 
     in unauthorized access, disclosure, use, or modification of 
     protected health information, or of systems containing 
     protected health information;
       (2) assessing the likelihood of and potential damage from 
     inaccuracy or from unauthorized access, disclosure, use, or 
     modification of protected health information;
       (3) assessing the sufficiency of policies, technologies, 
     and safeguards in place to minimize and control risks from 
     unauthorized access, disclosure, use, or modification of 
     protected health information; and
       (4) assessing the vulnerability of protected health 
     information during destruction and disposal of such 
     information, including through the disposal or retirement of 
     hardware.
       (c) Risk Management.--A person described in subsection (a) 
     shall establish risk management and control procedures 
     designed to control risks such as those identified in 
     subsection (b). Such procedures shall include--

[[Page 19494]]

       (1) a means for the detection and recording of actual or 
     attempted, unauthorized, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful 
     access, disclosure, transmission, modification, use, or loss 
     of personal health information;
       (2) procedures for ensuring the secure disposal of personal 
     health information;
       (3) a means for limiting physical access to hardware, 
     software, data storage technology, servers, systems, or 
     networks by unauthorized persons in order to minimize the 
     risk of information disclosure, modification, transmission, 
     access, use, or loss;
       (4) providing appropriate risk management and control 
     training for employees; and
       (5) carrying out annual testing of such risk management and 
     control procedures.

     SEC. 114. ACCOUNTING FOR DISCLOSURES AND USE.

       (a) In General.--A person described in section 102(a)(1) 
     shall establish and maintain, with respect to any protected 
     health information disclosure, a record of each disclosure in 
     accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary in 
     consultation with the Director of the Office of Health 
     Information Privacy. Such record shall include the purpose of 
     any disclosure and the identity of the specific individual 
     executing the disclosure, as well as the person to which such 
     information is disclosed.
       (b) Maintenance of Record.--A record established under 
     subsection (a) shall be maintained for not less than 7 years.
       (c) Electronic Records.--A person described in subsection 
     (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, maintain an 
     accessible electronic record concerning each access, use, or 
     disclosure, whether authorized or unauthorized and whether 
     successful or unsuccessful, of protected health information 
     maintained by such person in electronic form. The record 
     shall include the identities of the specific individuals (or 
     a way to identify such individuals, or information helpful in 
     determining the identities of such individuals) who access or 
     seek to gain access to, use or seek to use, or disclose or 
     seek to disclose, information sufficient to identify the 
     protected health information sought or accessed, and other 
     appropriate information.
       (d) Access to Records.--A person described in subsection 
     (a) shall permit an individual who is the subject of 
     protected health information, or the individual's designee, 
     to inspect and copy the records created in paragraphs (a) and 
     (c) of this section.

              TITLE II--RESTRICTIONS ON USE AND DISCLOSURE

         Subtitle A--General Restrictions on Use and Disclosure

     SEC. 201. GENERAL RULES REGARDING USE AND DISCLOSURE.

       (a) Prohibition.--
       (1) General rule.--A person may not disclose, access, or 
     use protected health information except as authorized under 
     this Act.
       (2) Rule of construction.--Disclosure or use of health 
     information that meets the standards of being de-identified 
     health information shall not be construed as a disclosure or 
     use of protected health information.
       (b) Scope of Disclosure or Use.--
       (1) In general.--A disclosure or use of protected health 
     information under this title shall be limited to the minimum 
     amount of information necessary to accomplish the purpose for 
     which the disclosure or use is made.
       (2) Determination.--The determination as to what 
     constitutes the minimum disclosure or use possible for 
     purposes of paragraph (1) shall be made by a health care 
     provider to the extent required by law. The minimum necessary 
     standard is intended to be consistent with, and not override, 
     professional judgment and standards.
       (c) Use or Disclosure for Purpose Only.--An authorized 
     recipient of information pursuant to this title may use or 
     disclose such information solely to carry out the purpose for 
     which the information was disclosed, except as provided in 
     section 214.
       (d) No General Requirement to Disclose.--Nothing in this 
     title permitting the disclosure of protected health 
     information shall be construed to require such disclosure.
       (e) Identification of Disclosed Information as Protected 
     Health Information.--Protected health information disclosed 
     or used pursuant to this title shall be clearly identified 
     and labeled as protected health information that is subject 
     to this Act.
       (f) Disclosure or Use by Agents.--An agent, employee, or 
     affiliate of a person described in section 102(a)(1) that 
     accesses, seeks to access, obtains, discloses, uses, or 
     receives protected health information from such person, shall 
     be subject to this title to the same extent as the person.
       (g) Disclosure or Use by Others.--A person receiving 
     protected health information initially held by a person 
     described in subsection (f) shall be subject to this title to 
     the same extent as the person described in subsection (f).
       (h) Creation of De-Identified Information.--Notwithstanding 
     subsection (c), but subject to the other provisions of this 
     section, a person described in subsection (f) may disclose 
     protected health information to an employee or other agent of 
     the person for purposes of creating de-identified 
     information.
       (i) Unauthorized Use or Disclosure of the Decryption Key.--
     The unauthorized disclosure of a decryption key or other 
     secondary or tertiary means for accessing protected health 
     information shall be deemed to be a disclosure of protected 
     health information. The unauthorized use of a decryption key 
     (or other secondary or tertiary means for accessing protected 
     health information) or de-identified health information in 
     order to identify an individual is deemed to be disclosure of 
     protected health information.
       (j) No Waiver.--Except as provided in this Act, an 
     authorization to disclose or use personally identifiable 
     health information executed by an individual pursuant to 
     section 202 or 203 shall not be construed as a waiver of any 
     rights that the individual has under other Federal or State 
     laws, the rules of evidence, or common law.
       (k) Opt-Out.--A person may not disclose, access, or use an 
     individual's protected health information until that 
     individual has been given the opportunity to opt out of any 
     local, regional, or nationwide health information network or 
     system that is used by the person.
       (l) Disposal of Data.--To prevent the unauthorized 
     disclosure or use of protected health information, such 
     information, when disposed of, shall be fully de-identified, 
     destroyed, and expunged from any electronic, paper, or other 
     files and documents maintained by authorized persons.
       (m) Obligations of Unauthorized Recipients.--A person that 
     obtains, accesses, or receives protected health information 
     and that is an unauthorized recipient of such information may 
     not access, maintain, retain, modify, record, store, destroy, 
     or otherwise use or disclose such information for any 
     purposes, and use or disclosure of protected health 
     information under such circumstances shall be deemed an 
     unauthorized disclosure of protected health information.
       (n) Definitions.--In this title:
       (1) Investigative or law enforcement officer.--The term 
     ``investigative or law enforcement officer'' means any 
     officer of the United States or of a State or political 
     subdivision thereof, who is empowered by law to conduct 
     investigations of, or to make arrests for, civil or criminal 
     offenses, and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or 
     participate in the prosecution of such offenses.
       (2) Segregate.--The term ``segregate'' means to hide, mask, 
     or mark separate a designated subset of an individual's 
     protected health information, or to place such a subset in a 
     location that is securely separated from the location used to 
     store other protected health information, such that access to 
     or use of any information so segregated may be effectively 
     limited to those persons that are authorized by the 
     individual to access or use that segregated information.
       (3) Signed.--The term ``signed'' refers to both signatures 
     in ink and electronic signatures, and the term ``written'' 
     refers to both paper and computerized formats.

     SEC. 202. INFORMED CONSENT FOR DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH 
                   INFORMATION FOR TREATMENT AND PAYMENT.

       (a) Requirements Relating to Employers, Health Plans, 
     Health or Life Insurers, Uninsured and Self-Pay Individuals, 
     and Providers.--
       (1) In general.--To satisfy the requirement under section 
     201(b)(1), an employer, health plan, health or life insurer, 
     or health care provider that seeks to disclose protected 
     health information in connection with treatment or payment 
     shall obtain an authorization from the subject of such 
     protected health information that satisfies the requirements 
     of this section. A single authorization may authorize 
     multiple disclosures.
       (2) Employers.--Every employer offering a health plan to 
     its employees shall, at the time of an employee's enrollment 
     in the health plan, obtain a signed, written authorization 
     that is an authorization based on informed consent that 
     satisfies the requirements of subsection (b) concerning the 
     use and disclosure of protected health information for 
     treatment or payment with respect to each individual who is 
     eligible to receive care under the health plan.
       (3) Health plans, health or life insurers.--Every health 
     plan or health or life insurer offering enrollment to 
     individual or nonemployer groups shall, at the time of 
     enrollment in the plan or insurance, obtain a signed, written 
     authorization that is a legal, informed authorization that 
     satisfies the requirements of subsection (b) concerning the 
     use and disclosure of protected health information with 
     respect to each individual who is eligible to receive care or 
     benefits under the plan or insurance.
       (4) Uninsured and self-pay.--An originating provider that 
     provides health care in other than a network plan setting, or 
     provides health care to an uninsured individual, shall obtain 
     a signed, written authorization that satisfies the 
     requirements of subsection (b) to access or use protected 
     health information in providing health care or arranging for 
     health care from other providers or seeking payment for the 
     provision of health care services.
       (5) Providers.--
       (A) In general.--Every health care provider that provides 
     health care to an individual that has not been given the 
     appropriate prior authorization under this section, shall at 
     the time of providing such care obtain a signed, written 
     authorization that is a

[[Page 19495]]

     legal, informed authorization, that satisfies the 
     requirements of subsection (b), concerning the use and 
     disclosure of protected health information with respect to 
     such individual.
       (B) Rule of construction.--Subparagraph (A) shall not be 
     construed to preclude the provision of health care to an 
     individual who has not given appropriate authorization prior 
     to receipt of such care if--
       (i) the health care provider involved determines that such 
     care is essential; and
       (ii) the individual can reasonably be expected to sign an 
     authorization for such care when appropriate.
       (b) Requirements for Individual Informed Consent.--To 
     satisfy the requirements of this subsection, an authorization 
     from an individual to disclose the individual's protected 
     health information shall--
       (1) identify, by general job description or other 
     functional description and by geographic location, those 
     persons that are authorized to disclose the information, 
     including entities employed by, or operating within, a person 
     authorized to disclose the information;
       (2) describe the nature of the information to be disclosed;
       (3) identify, by general job description or other 
     functional description and by geographic location, those 
     persons to which the information will be disclosed, including 
     entities employed by, or operating within, a person to which 
     information is authorized to be disclosed;
       (4) describe the purpose of the disclosures;
       (5) permit the executing individual to indicate that a 
     particular person or class of persons (a group of persons 
     with similar roles or functions) listed on the authorization 
     is not authorized to receive protected health information 
     concerning the individual, except as provided for in 
     subsection (c)(3);
       (6) provide the means by which an individual may indicate 
     that some of the individual's protected health information 
     should be segregated and to what persons or classes of 
     persons such segregated information may be disclosed;
       (7) be subject to revocation by the individual and indicate 
     that the authorization is valid until revocation by the 
     individual or until an event or date specified;
       (8)(A) be--
       (i) in writing, dated, and signed by the individual; or
       (ii) in electronic form, dated and authenticated by the 
     individual using an authentication method approved by the 
     Secretary; and
       (B) not have been revoked under subparagraph (A);
       (9) describe the procedure by which an individual can amend 
     an authorization previously obtained by a person;
       (10) include a concise description of any systems or 
     services used for access, maintenance, retention, 
     modification, recording, storage, destruction, or other use 
     of protected health information by the authorized person, 
     including--
       (A) a description of any linkages made with other systems, 
     databases, networks, or services external to the authorized 
     person; and
       (B) how the linkages made with other systems, databases, 
     networks, or services external to the authorized person meet 
     the privacy and security standards of the authorized person;
       (11) describe the extent to which the authorized person 
     will share information with sub-contracted persons, and the 
     geographic location of sub-contracted persons, including 
     those operating or located overseas, except that the 
     authorized person shall obtain the informed consent of the 
     individual involved prior to outsourcing such individual's 
     protected health information to a sub-contracted person 
     operating or located overseas; and
       (12) describe the nature and probability of harm to the 
     individual resulting from authorization for use or 
     disclosure, consistent with the principle of informed 
     consent.
       (c) Limitation on Authorizations.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a 
     person described in section 102(a)(1) that seeks an 
     authorization under this title may not condition the delivery 
     of treatment or payment for services on the receipt of such 
     an authorization.
       (2) Right to require self-payment.--If an individual has 
     refused to provide an authorization for disclosure of 
     administrative billing information to a person and such 
     authorization is necessary for a health care provider to 
     receive payment for services delivered, the health care 
     provider may require the individual to pay from their own 
     funds for the services.
       (3) Right of health care provider to require authorization 
     for treatment purposes.--If a health care provider that is 
     seeking an authorization for disclosure of an individual's 
     protected health information believes that the disclosure of 
     such information is necessary so as not to endanger the 
     health or treatment of the individual, and if the withholding 
     of services will not endanger the life of the individual, the 
     health care provider may condition the provision of services 
     upon the individual's execution of an authorization to 
     disclose personal health information to the minimum extent 
     necessary.
       (4) Authorizations for payment under certain 
     circumstances.--If an individual is in a physical or mental 
     condition such that the individual is not capable of 
     authorizing the disclosure of protected health information 
     and no other arrangements have been made to pay for the 
     health care services being rendered to the patient, such 
     information may be disclosed to a governmental authority to 
     the extent necessary to determine the individual's 
     eligibility for, and to obtain, payment under a governmental 
     program for health care services provided to the patient. The 
     information may also be disclosed to another provider of 
     health care or health care service plan as necessary to 
     assist the other provider or health care service plan in 
     obtaining payment for health care services rendered by that 
     provider of health care or health care service plan to the 
     patient.
       (d) Model Authorizations.--The Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Director of the Office of Health Information 
     Privacy, after notice and opportunity for public comment, 
     shall develop and disseminate model written authorizations of 
     the type described in this section and model statements of 
     the limitations on authorizations. Any authorization obtained 
     on a model authorization form under section 202 developed by 
     the Secretary pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be 
     deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section.
       (e) Segregation of Files.--A person described in section 
     102(a)(1) shall comply with the request of an individual who 
     is the subject of protected health information--
       (1) to hide, mask, or mark separate any type or amount of 
     protected health information held by the person; and
       (2) to limit the use or disclosure of the segregated health 
     information within the person to those specifically 
     designated by the subject of the protected health 
     information.
       (f) Revocation of Authorization.--
       (1) In general.--An individual may, electronically or in 
     writing, revoke or amend an authorization under this section 
     at any time, unless the disclosure that is the subject of the 
     authorization is required to effectuate payment for health 
     care that has been provided to the individual and for which 
     the individual has declined or refused to pay from the 
     individual's own funds.
       (2) Health plans.--With respect to a health plan, the 
     authorization of an individual is deemed to be revoked at the 
     time of the cancellation or non-renewal of enrollment in the 
     health plan, except as may be necessary to complete plan 
     administration and payment requirements related to the 
     individual's period of enrollment.
       (3) Actions.--An individual may not maintain an action 
     against a person for disclosure of personally identifiable 
     health information--
       (A) if the disclosure was made based on a good faith 
     reliance on the individual's authorization under this section 
     at the time such disclosure was made;
       (B) in a case in which the authorization is revoked, if the 
     disclosing person had no actual or constructive notice of the 
     revocation; or
       (C) if the disclosure was for the purpose of protecting 
     another individual from imminent physical harm, and is 
     authorized under section 204.
       (g) Record of Individual's Authorizations and 
     Revocations.--Each person accessing, maintaining, retaining, 
     modifying, recording, storing, destroying, or otherwise using 
     personally identifiable or protected health information shall 
     maintain a record for a period of 7 years of each 
     authorization by an individual and any revocation thereof, 
     and such record shall become part of the individual's health 
     record set.
       (h) Rule of Construction.--Authorizations for the 
     disclosure of protected health information for treatment or 
     payment shall not authorize the disclosure of such 
     information where the intent is to sell, market, transfer, or 
     use the protected health information for a commercial 
     advantage other than for the revenues directly derived from 
     the provision of health care to that individual. With respect 
     to such a disclosure for a use other than for treatment or 
     payment, a separate authorization that satisfies the 
     requirements of section 203 is required.

     SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH 
                   INFORMATION OTHER THAN FOR TREATMENT OR 
                   PAYMENT.

       (a) In General.--To satisfy the requirement under section 
     201(b)(1), a health care provider, health plan, health 
     oversight agency, public health authority, employer, health 
     researcher, law enforcement official, health or life insurer, 
     school or university, or other person described under section 
     102(a)(1) that seeks to disclose protected health information 
     for a purpose other than treatment or payment shall obtain an 
     authorization that satisfies the requirements of subsections 
     (b), (e), (f), and (g) of section 202. Such an authorization 
     under this section shall be separate from an authorization 
     provided under section 202.
       (b) Limitation on Authorizations.--
       (1) In general.--A person subject to section 202 may not 
     condition the delivery of treatment, or payment for services, 
     on the receipt of an authorization described in this section.
       (2) Requirement for separate authorization.--A person 
     subject to section 202 may not disclose protected health 
     information to

[[Page 19496]]

     any employees or agents who are responsible for making 
     employment, work assignment, or other personnel decisions 
     with respect to the subject of the information without a 
     separate authorization permitting such a disclosure.
       (c) Model Authorizations.--The Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Director of the Office of Health Information 
     Privacy, after notice and opportunity for public comment, 
     shall develop and disseminate model written authorizations of 
     the type described in subsection (a). Any authorization 
     obtained on a model authorization form under this section 
     shall be deemed to meet the authorization requirements of 
     this section.
       (d) Requirement to Release Protected Health Information to 
     Coroners and Medical Examiners.--
       (1) In general.--When a coroner or medical examiner or 
     their duly appointed deputies seek protected health 
     information for the purpose of inquiry into and determination 
     of, the cause, manner, and circumstances of an individual's 
     death, the health care provider, health plan, health 
     oversight agency, public health authority, employer, health 
     researcher, law enforcement officer, health or life insurer, 
     school or university, or other person involved shall provide 
     that individual's protected health information to the coroner 
     or medical examiner or to the duly appointed deputies without 
     undue delay.
       (2) Production of additional information.--If a coroner or 
     medical examiner or their duly appointed deputies receives 
     health information from a person referred to in paragraph 
     (1), such health information shall remain as protected health 
     information unless the health information is attached to or 
     otherwise made a part of a coroner's or medical examiner's 
     official report, in which case it shall no longer be 
     protected.
       (3) Exemption.--Health information attached to or otherwise 
     made a part of a coroner's or medical examiner's official 
     report shall be exempt from the provisions of this Act except 
     as provided for in this subsection.
       (4) Reimbursement.--A person referred to paragraph (1) may 
     request reimbursement from a coroner or medical examiner for 
     the reasonable costs associated with inspection or copying of 
     protected health information maintained, retained, or stored 
     by such person.
       (e) Revocation or Amendment of Authorization.--An 
     individual may, in writing, revoke or amend an authorization 
     under this section at any time.
       (f) Actions.--An individual may not maintain an action 
     against a person described in section 102(a)(1) for the 
     disclosure of protected health information--
       (1) if the disclosure was made based on a good faith 
     reliance on the individual's authorization under this section 
     at the time disclosure was made;
       (2) in a case in which the authorization is revoked, if the 
     disclosing person had no actual or constructive notice of the 
     revocation; or
       (3) if the disclosure was for the purpose of protecting 
     another individual from imminent physical harm, and is 
     authorized under section 204.
       (g) Record of Authorizations and Revocations.--Each person 
     accessing, maintaining, retaining, modifying, recording, 
     storing, destroying, or otherwise using personally 
     identifiable or protected health information for purposes 
     other than treatment or payment shall maintain a record for a 
     period of 7 years of each authorization by an individual and 
     any revocation thereof, and such record shall become part of 
     the individual's health record set.

     SEC. 204. NOTIFICATION IN THE CASE OF BREACH.

       (a) In General.--A person described in section 102(a)(1) 
     that accesses, maintains, retains, modifies, records, stores, 
     destroys, or otherwise uses or discloses protected health 
     information shall, following the discovery of a security 
     breach of such information, notify each individual whose 
     protected health information has been, or is reasonably 
     believed to have been, accessed, or acquired during such 
     breach.
       (b) Obligation of Owner or Licensee.--
       (1) Notice to owner or licensee.--Any person engaged in 
     interstate commerce, that uses, accesses, transmits, stores, 
     disposes of, or collects protected health information that 
     the person does not own or license shall notify the owner or 
     licensee of the information following the discovery of a 
     security breach involving such information.
       (2) Notice by owner, licensee, or other designated third 
     party.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to 
     prevent or abrogate an agreement between a person required to 
     give notice under this section and a designated third party, 
     including an owner or licensee of the protected health 
     information subject to the security breach, to provide the 
     notifications required under subsection (a).
       (3) Person relieved from giving notice.--A person obligated 
     to give notice under subsection (a) shall be relieved of such 
     obligation if an owner or licensee of the protected health 
     information subject to the security breach, or other 
     designated third party, provides such notification.
       (c) Timeliness of Notification.--
       (1) In general.--All notifications required under this 
     section shall be made within 15 business days, or earlier if 
     the Secretary determines appropriate, following the discovery 
     by the person of a security breach.
       (2) Burden of proof.--The person required to provide 
     notification under this section shall have the burden of 
     demonstrating that all notifications were made as required 
     under this subtitle, including evidence demonstrating the 
     necessity of any delay.
       (d) Methods of Notice.--A person described in subsection 
     (a) shall provide to an individual the following forms of 
     notice in the case of a security breach:
       (1) Individual notice.--Notice required under this section 
     shall be provided in such form as the individual selects, 
     including--
       (A) written notification to the last known home mailing 
     address of the individual in the records of the person;
       (B) telephone notice to the individual personally; or
       (C) e-mail notice, if the individual has consented to 
     receive such notice and the notice is consistent with the 
     provisions permitting electronic transmission of notices 
     under section 101 of the Electronic Signatures in Global and 
     National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. 7001).
       (2) Media notice.--Notice shall be provided to prominent 
     media outlets serving a State or jurisdiction, if the 
     protected health information of more than 1,000 residents of 
     such State or jurisdiction is, or is reasonably believed to 
     have been, acquired by an unauthorized person.
       (3) Notice to secretary.--Notice shall be provided to the 
     Secretary for persons described in section 102 (a)(1) that 
     have lost, stolen, disclosed, or used in an unauthorized 
     manner or for an unauthorized purpose the protected health 
     information of a significant number of individuals.
       (e) Content of Notification.--Regardless of the method by 
     which notice is provided to individuals under section 104, 
     notice of a security breach shall include, to the extent 
     possible--
       (1) a description of the protected health information that 
     has been, or is reasonably believed to have been, accessed, 
     disclosed, or otherwise used by an unauthorized person;
       (2) a toll-free number that the individual may use to 
     contact the person described in subsection (a) to learn what 
     types of protected health information the person maintained 
     about that individual; and
       (3) toll-free contact telephone numbers and addresses for 
     major credit reporting agencies.
       (f) Delay of Notification Authorized for Law Enforcement 
     Purposes.--
       (1) In general.--If a Federal law enforcement agency 
     determines that the notification required under this section 
     would impede a criminal investigation or cause damage to 
     national security, such notification shall be delayed upon 
     written notice from the Federal law enforcement agency to the 
     person that experienced the breach.
       (2) Extended delay of notification.--If the notification 
     required under subsection (a) is delayed pursuant to 
     paragraph (1), a person shall give notice not later than 30 
     days after such law enforcement delay was invoked unless a 
     Federal law enforcement agency provides written notification 
     that further delay is necessary.
       (3) Law enforcement immunity.--No cause of action shall 
     arise in any court against any Federal law enforcement agency 
     for acts relating to the delay of notification for law 
     enforcement purposes under this subtitle.

           Subtitle B--Disclosure Under Special Circumstances

     SEC. 211. EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES.

       (a) General Rule.--In the event of a threat of imminent 
     physical or mental harm to the subject of protected health 
     information, any person may, in order to allay or remedy such 
     threat, disclose protected health information about such 
     subject to a health care provider, health care facility, law 
     enforcement authority, or emergency medical personnel, to the 
     minimum extent necessary and only if determined appropriate 
     by a health care provider.
       (b) Harm to Others.--Any person may disclose protected 
     health information about the subject of the information 
     where--
       (1) such subject has made an identifiable threat of serious 
     injury or death with respect to an identifiable individual or 
     group of individuals;
       (2) the subject has the ability to carry out such threat; 
     and
       (3) the release of such information is necessary to prevent 
     or significantly reduce the possibility of such threat being 
     carried out.

     SEC. 212. PUBLIC HEALTH.

       (a) In General.--A health care provider, health plan, 
     public health authority, employer, health or life insurer, 
     law enforcement official, school or university, or other 
     person described in section 102(a)(1) may disclose protected 
     health information to a public health authority or other 
     entity authorized by public health law, when receipt of such 
     information by the authority or other entity--
       (1) relates directly to a specified public health purpose;
       (2) is reasonably likely to achieve such purpose; and

[[Page 19497]]

       (3) is intended for a purpose that cannot be achieved 
     through the receipt or use of de-identified health 
     information.
       (b) Public Health Protection Defined.--For purposes of 
     subsection (a), the term ``public health protection'' means a 
     population-based activity or individual effort, authorized by 
     law, the purpose of which is the prevention of injury, 
     disease, or premature mortality, or the promotion of health, 
     in a community, including--
       (1) assessing the health needs and status of the community 
     through public health surveillance and epidemiological 
     research;
       (2) implementing public health policy;
       (3) responding to public health needs and emergencies; and
       (4) any other activities or efforts authorized by law.
       (c) Limitations.--The purpose of the disclosure described 
     in subsection (a) should be of sufficient importance to 
     warrant the potential effect on, or risk to, the privacy of 
     individuals that the additional exposure of protected health 
     information might bring. Any infringement on the right to 
     privacy under this section should use the least intrusive 
     means that are tailored to minimize intrusion on the right to 
     privacy.

     SEC. 213. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCIES.

       Any person described in section 102(a)(1) that creates, 
     accesses, maintains, retains, modifies, records, stores, 
     destroys, or otherwise uses or discloses protected health 
     information under this title may disclose such information to 
     a protection and advocacy agency established under part C of 
     title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill 
     of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6041 et seq.) or under the 
     Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 
     1986 (42 U.S.C. 10801 et seq.) when such person can establish 
     that there is probable cause to believe that an individual 
     who is the subject of the protected health information is 
     vulnerable to abuse and neglect by an entity providing health 
     or social services to the individual.

     SEC. 214. OVERSIGHT.

       (a) In General.--A health care provider, health plan, 
     employer, law enforcement official, health or life insurer, 
     public health authority, health researcher, school or 
     university, or other person described in section 102(a)(1) 
     may disclose protected health information to a health 
     oversight agency to enable the agency to perform a health 
     oversight function authorized by law, if--
       (1) the purpose for which the disclosure is to be made 
     cannot reasonably be accomplished without protected health 
     information;
       (2) the purpose for which the disclosure is to be made is 
     of sufficient importance to warrant the effect on, or the 
     risk to, the privacy of the individuals that additional 
     exposure of the information might bring; and
       (3) there is a reasonable probability that the purpose of 
     the disclosure will be accomplished.
       (b) Use and Maintenance of Protected Health Information.--A 
     health oversight agency that receives protected health 
     information under this section--
       (1) shall secure protected health information in all work 
     papers and all documents summarizing the health oversight 
     activity through technological, administrative, and physical 
     safeguards including cryptographic-key based encryption;
       (2) shall maintain in its records only such information 
     about an individual as is relevant and necessary to 
     accomplish the purpose for which the protected health 
     information was obtained;
       (3) using appropriate encryption measures. shall maintain 
     such information securely and limit access to such 
     information to those persons with a legitimate need for 
     access to carry out the purpose for which the records were 
     obtained; and
       (4) shall remove or destroy the information that allows 
     subjects of protected health information to be identified at 
     the earliest time at which removal or destruction can be 
     accomplished, consistent with the purpose of the health 
     oversight activity.
       (c) Use of Protected Health Information in Judicial 
     Proceedings.--
       (1) In general.--The disclosure and use of protected health 
     information in any judicial, administrative, court, or other 
     public proceeding or investigation relating to a health 
     oversight activity shall be undertaken in such a manner as to 
     preserve the confidentiality and privacy of individuals who 
     are the subject of the information, unless disclosure is 
     required by the nature of the proceedings.
       (2) Limiting disclosure.--Whenever disclosure of the 
     identity of the subject of protected health information is 
     required by the nature of the proceedings, or it is 
     impracticable to redact the identity of such individual, the 
     agency shall request that the presiding judicial or 
     administrative officer enter an order limiting the disclosure 
     of the identity of the subject to the extent possible, 
     including the redacting of the protected health information 
     from publicly disclosed or filed pleadings or records.
       (d) Authorization by a Supervisor.--For purposes of this 
     section, the individual with authority to authorize the 
     oversight function involved shall provide to the disclosing 
     person described in subsection (a) a statement that the 
     protected health information is being sought for a legally 
     authorized oversight function.
       (e) Use in Action Against Individuals.--Protected health 
     information about an individual that is disclosed under this 
     section may not be used in, or disclosed to any person for 
     use in, an administrative, civil, or criminal action or 
     investigation directed against the individual, unless the 
     action or investigation arises out of and is directly related 
     to--
       (1) the receipt of health care or payment for health care;
       (2) a fraudulent claim related to health; or
       (3) oversight of a public health authority or a health 
     researcher.

     SEC. 215. DISCLOSURE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, NATIONAL SECURITY, 
                   AND INTELLIGENCE PURPOSES.

       (a) Access to Protected Health Information for Law 
     Enforcement, National Security, and Intelligence 
     Activities.--A person described in section 102(a)(1), or a 
     person who receives protected health information pursuant to 
     section 211, may disclose protected health information to--
       (1) an investigative or law enforcement officer pursuant to 
     a warrant issued under the Federal Rules of Criminal 
     Procedure, an equivalent State warrant, a grand jury 
     subpoena, civil subpoena, civil investigative demand, or a 
     court order under limitations set forth in subsection (b); 
     and
       (2) an authorized Federal official for the conduct of 
     lawful intelligence, counter-intelligence, and other national 
     security activities authorized by the National Security Act 
     (50 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) and implementing authority (Executive 
     Order 12333), or otherwise by law.
       (b) Requirements for Court Orders for Access to Protected 
     Health Information.--A court order for the disclosure of 
     protected health information under subsection (a)(1) may be 
     issued by any court that is a court of competent jurisdiction 
     and shall issue only if the investigative or law enforcement 
     officer submits a written application upon oath or equivalent 
     affirmation demonstrating that there is probable cause to 
     believe that--
       (1) the protected health information sought is relevant and 
     material to an ongoing criminal investigation, except in the 
     case of a State government authority, such a court order 
     shall not issue if prohibited by the law of such State;
       (2) the investigative or evidentiary needs of the 
     investigative or law enforcement officer cannot reasonably be 
     satisfied by de-identified health information or by any other 
     information; and
       (3) the law enforcement need for the information outweighs 
     the privacy interest of the individual to whom the 
     information pertains.
       (c) Motions to Quash or Modify.--A court issuing an order 
     pursuant to this section, on a motion made promptly by a 
     person described in subsection (a)(1) may quash or modify 
     such order if the court finds that information or records 
     requested are unreasonably voluminous or if compliance with 
     such order otherwise would cause an unreasonable burden on 
     such entities.
       (d) Notice.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
     order for the disclosure of protected health information 
     about an individual may be issued by a court under this 
     section unless prior notice of the application for the order 
     has been served on the individual and the individual has been 
     afforded an opportunity to oppose the issuance of the order.
       (2) Notice not required.--An order for the disclosure of 
     protected health information about an individual may be 
     issued without prior notice to the individual if the court 
     finds that notice would be impractical because--
       (A) the name and address of the individual are unknown; or
       (B) notice would risk destruction or unavailability of the 
     evidence, intelligence, counter-intelligence, or other 
     national security information.
       (e) Conditions.--Upon the granting of an order for 
     disclosure of protected health information under this 
     section, the court shall impose appropriate safeguards to 
     ensure the confidentiality of such information and to protect 
     against unauthorized or improper use or disclosure.
       (f) Limitation on Use and Disclosure for National Security, 
     Intelligence, and Other Law Enforcement Inquiries.--Protected 
     health information about an individual that is disclosed 
     under this section may not be used in, or disclosed to any 
     entity for use in, any administrative, civil, or criminal 
     action or investigation directed against the individual, 
     unless the action or investigation arises out of, or is 
     directly related to, the law enforcement, national security, 
     or intelligence inquiry for which the information was 
     obtained.
       (g) Destruction or Return of Information.--When the matter 
     or need for which protected health information was disclosed 
     to an investigative or law enforcement officer, a Federal 
     official authorized for the conduct of lawful intelligence, 
     counter-intelligence, and other national security activities, 
     or authorized Federal official, or grand jury has concluded, 
     including any derivative

[[Page 19498]]

     matters arising from such matter or need, the law enforcement 
     agency, authorized Federal official, or grand jury shall 
     either destroy the protected health information, or return it 
     to the entity from which it was obtained.
       (h) Redactions.--To the extent practicable, and consistent 
     with the requirements of due process, a law enforcement 
     agency shall redact personally identifying information from 
     protected health information prior to the public disclosure 
     of such protected information in a judicial or administrative 
     proceeding.
       (i) Exception.--This section shall not be construed to 
     limit or restrict the ability of law enforcement authorities 
     to gain information while in hot pursuit of a suspect or if 
     other exigent circumstances exist.

     SEC. 216. NEXT OF KIN AND DIRECTORY INFORMATION.

       (a) Next of Kin.--A health care provider, or a person that 
     receives protected health information under section 211, may 
     disclose protected health information about health care 
     services provided to an individual to the individual's next 
     of kin, or to another entity that the individual has 
     identified, if at the time of the treatment of the 
     individual--
       (1) the individual--
       (A) has been notified of the individual's right to object 
     to such disclosure and the individual has not objected to the 
     disclosure; or
       (B) is in a physical or mental condition such that the 
     individual is not capable of objecting, and there are no 
     prior indications that the individual would object; and
       (2) the information disclosed is relevant to health care 
     services currently being provided to that individual.
       (b) Directory Information.--
       (1) Disclosure.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), with 
     respect to an individual who is admitted as an inpatient to a 
     health care facility, a person described in subsection (a) 
     may disclose information described in subparagraph (B) about 
     the individual to any entity if, at the time of the 
     admission, the individual--
       (i) has been notified of the individual's right to object 
     and has not objected to the disclosure; or
       (ii) is in a physical or mental condition such that the 
     individual is not capable of objecting and there are no prior 
     indications that the individual would object.
       (B) Information.--Information described in this 
     subparagraph is information that consists only of 1 or more 
     of the following items:
       (i) The name of the individual who is the subject of the 
     information.
       (ii) The general health status of the individual, described 
     as critical, poor, fair, stable, or satisfactory or in terms 
     denoting similar conditions.
       (iii) The location of the individual within the health care 
     facility to which the individual is admitted.
       (2) Exception.--Paragraph (1)(B)(iii) shall not apply if 
     disclosure of the location of the individual would reveal 
     specific information about the physical or mental condition 
     of the individual, unless the individual expressly authorizes 
     such disclosure.
       (c) Directory or Next-of-Kin Information.--A disclosure may 
     not be made under this section if the disclosing person 
     described in subsection (a) has reason to believe that the 
     disclosure of directory or next-of-kin information could lead 
     to the physical or mental harm of the individual, unless the 
     individual expressly authorizes such disclosure.

     SEC. 217. HEALTH RESEARCH.

       (a) Regulations.--
       (1) In general.--The requirements and protections provided 
     for under part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations 
     (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), shall 
     apply to all health research.
       (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall not take effect 
     until the Secretary has promulgated final regulations to 
     implement such paragraph.
       (b) Evaluation.--Not later than 24 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit 
     to Congress detailed recommendations on whether written 
     informed consent should be required, and if so, under what 
     circumstances, before protected health information can be 
     used for health research.
       (c) Recommendations.--The recommendations required to be 
     submitted under subsection (b) shall include--
       (1) a detailed explanation of current institutional review 
     board practices, including the extent to which the privacy of 
     individuals is taken into account as a factor before allowing 
     waivers and under what circumstances informed consent is 
     being waived;
       (2) a summary of how technology could be used to strip 
     identifying data for the purposes of research;
       (3) an analysis of the risks and benefits of requiring 
     informed consent versus the waiver of informed consent;
       (4) an analysis of the risks and benefits of using 
     protected health information for research purposes other than 
     the health research project for which such information was 
     obtained; and
       (5) an analysis of the risks and benefits of allowing 
     individuals to consent or to refuse to consent, at the time 
     of receiving medical treatment, to the possible future use of 
     records of medical treatments for research studies.
       (d) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary shall consult with individuals who have 
     distinguished themselves in the fields of health research, 
     privacy, related technology, consumer interests in health 
     information, health data standards, and the provision of 
     health services.
       (e) Congressional Notice.--Not later than 6 months after 
     the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress the 
     recommendations required under subsection (b), the Secretary 
     shall propose to implement such recommendations through 
     regulations promulgated on the record after opportunity for a 
     hearing, and shall advise the Congress of such proposal.
       (f) Other Requirements.--
       (1) Obligations of the recipient.--A person who receives 
     protected health information pursuant to this section shall 
     remove or destroy, at the earliest opportunity consistent 
     with the purposes of the project involved, information that 
     would enable an individual to be identified, unless--
       (A) an institutional review board has determined that there 
     is a health or research justification for the retention of 
     such identifiers; and
       (B) there is an adequate plan to protect the identifiers 
     from disclosure consistent with this section.
       (2) Periodic review and technical assistance.--
       (A) Institutional review board.--Any institutional review 
     board that authorizes research under this section shall 
     provide the Secretary with the names and addresses of the 
     institutional review board members.
       (B) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide 
     technical assistance to institutional review boards described 
     in this subsection.
       (C) Monitoring.--The Secretary shall periodically monitor 
     institutional review boards described in this subsection.
       (D) Reports.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to Congress 
     regarding the activities of institutional review boards 
     described in this subsection.
       (g) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed 
     to permit protected health information that is received by a 
     researcher under this section to be accessed for purposes 
     other than research or as authorized by the individual that 
     is the subject of such protected health information.

     SEC. 218. JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES.

       (a) In General.--A person described in section 102(a)(1), 
     or a person who receives protected health information under 
     section 211, may disclose protected health information--
       (1) pursuant to the standards and procedures established in 
     the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or comparable rules of 
     other courts or administrative agencies, in connection with 
     litigation or proceedings to which an individual who is the 
     subject of the information is a party and in which the 
     individual has placed his or her physical or mental condition 
     at issue;
       (2) to a court, and to others ordered by the court, if in 
     response to a court order issued by a court of competent 
     jurisdiction in accordance with subsections (b) and (c); or
       (3) if necessary to present to a court an application 
     regarding the provision of treatment of an individual or the 
     appointment of a guardian.
       (b) Court Orders for Access to Protected Health 
     Information.--A court order for the disclosure of protected 
     health information under subsection (a) may be issued only if 
     the person seeking disclosure submits a written application 
     upon oath or equivalent affirmation demonstrating by clear 
     and convincing evidence that--
       (1) the protected health information sought is necessary 
     for the adjudication of a material fact in dispute in a civil 
     proceeding;
       (2) the adjudicative need cannot be reasonably satisfied by 
     de-identified health information or by any other information; 
     and
       (3) the need for the information outweighs the privacy 
     interest of the individual to whom the information pertains.
       (c) Notice.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
     order for the disclosure of protected health information 
     about an individual may be issued by a court unless notice of 
     the application for the order has been served on the 
     individual and the individual has been afforded an 
     opportunity to oppose the issuance of the order.
       (2) Notice not required.--An order for the disclosure of 
     protected health information about an individual may be 
     issued without notice to the individual if the court finds, 
     by clear and convincing evidence, that notice would be 
     impractical because--
       (A) the name and address of the individual are unknown; or
       (B) notice would risk destruction or unavailability of the 
     evidence.
       (d) Obligations of Recipient.--A person seeking protected 
     health information pursuant to subsection (a)(1)--

[[Page 19499]]

       (1) shall notify the individual or the individual's 
     attorney of the request for the information;
       (2) shall provide the health care provider, health plan, 
     health oversight agency, employer, insurer, health or life 
     insurer, school or university, agent, or other person 
     involved with a signed document attesting--
       (A) that the individual has placed his or her physical or 
     mental condition at issue in litigation or proceedings in 
     which the individual is a party; and
       (B) the date on which the individual or the individual's 
     attorney was notified under paragraph (1); and
       (3) shall not accept any requested protected health 
     information from the health care provider, health plan, 
     health oversight agency, employer, insurer, health or life 
     insurer, school or university, agent, or other person until 
     the termination of the 10-day period beginning on the date 
     notice was given under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 219. INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIVES.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsections (b) and 
     (c), a person who is authorized by law (based on grounds 
     other than an individual's status as a minor), or by an 
     instrument recognized under law, to act as an agent, 
     attorney, proxy, or other legal representative of an 
     individual, may, to the extent so authorized, exercise and 
     discharge the rights of the individual under this Act.
       (b) Health Care Power of Attorney.--A person who is 
     authorized by law (based on grounds other than being a 
     minor), or by an instrument recognized under law, to make 
     decisions about the provision of health care to an individual 
     who is incapacitated, may exercise and discharge the rights 
     of the individual under this Act to the extent necessary to 
     effectuate the terms or purposes of the grant of authority.
       (c) No Court Declaration.--If a physician or other health 
     care provider determines that an individual, who has not been 
     declared to be legally incompetent, suffers from a medical 
     condition that prevents the individual from acting knowingly 
     or effectively on the individual's own behalf, the right of 
     the individual to access or amend the health information and 
     to authorize disclosure under this Act may be exercised and 
     discharged in the best interest of the individual by--
       (1) a person described in subsection (b) with respect to 
     the individual;
       (2) a person described in subsection (a) with respect to 
     the individual, but only if a person described in paragraph 
     (1) cannot be contacted after a reasonable effort or if there 
     is no individual who fits the description in paragraph (1);
       (3) the next of kin of the individual, but only if a person 
     described in paragraph (1) or (2) cannot be contacted after a 
     reasonable effort; or
       (4) the health care provider, but only if a person 
     described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) cannot be contacted 
     after a reasonable effort.
       (d) Rights of Minors.--
       (1) Individuals who are 18 or legally capable.--In the case 
     of an individual--
       (A) who is 18 years of age or older, all rights of the 
     individual under this Act shall be exercised by the 
     individual; or
       (B) who, acting alone, can consent to health care without 
     violating any applicable law, and who has sought such care, 
     the individual shall exercise all rights of an individual 
     under this Act with respect to protected health information 
     relating to such health care.
       (2) Individuals under 18.--Except as provided in paragraph 
     (1)(B), in the case of an individual who is--
       (A) under 14 years of age, all of the individual's rights 
     under this Act shall be exercised through the parent or legal 
     guardian; or
       (B) 14 through 17 years of age, the rights of inspection, 
     supplementation, and modification, and the right to authorize 
     use and disclosure of protected health information of the 
     individual shall be exercised by--
       (i) the individual where no parent or legal guardian 
     exists;
       (ii) the parent or legal guardian of the individual; or
       (iii) the individual if the parent or legal guardian 
     determined that the individual has the sole right the control 
     their health information.
       (e) Deceased Individuals.--
       (1) Application of act.--The provisions of this Act shall 
     continue to apply to protected health information concerning 
     a deceased individual.
       (2) Exercise of rights on behalf of a deceased 
     individual.--A person who is authorized by law or by an 
     instrument recognized under law, to act as an executor or 
     administrator of the estate of a deceased individual, or 
     otherwise to exercise the rights of the deceased individual, 
     may, to the extent so authorized, exercise and discharge the 
     rights of such deceased individual under this Act. If no such 
     designee has been authorized, the rights of the deceased 
     individual may be exercised as provided for in subsection 
     (c).
       (3) Identification of deceased individual.--A person 
     described in section 216(a) may disclose protected health 
     information if such disclosure is necessary to assist in the 
     identification of a deceased individual.

 TITLE III--OFFICE OF HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                       HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                        Subtitle A--Designation

     SEC. 301. DESIGNATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall designate an office 
     within the Department of Health and Human Services to be 
     known as the Office of Health Information Privacy (referred 
     to in this section as the ``Office''). The Office shall be 
     headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Duties.--The Director of the Office shall--
       (1) receive and investigate complaints of alleged 
     violations of this Act;
       (2) provide for the conduct of audits where appropriate;
       (3) provide guidance to the Secretary on the implementation 
     of this Act;
       (4) provide guidance to health care providers and other 
     relevant individuals concerning the manner in which to 
     interpret and implement the privacy protections under this 
     Act (and the regulations promulgated under this Act);
       (5) prepare and submit the report described in subsection 
     (c);
       (6) consult with, and provide recommendation to, the 
     Secretary concerning improvements in the privacy and security 
     of protected health information and concerning medical 
     privacy research needs; and
       (7) carry out any other activities determined appropriate 
     by the Secretary.
       (c) Standards for Certification.--
       (1) Establishment.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Director of the Office and the Director of the Office of 
     Civil Rights, shall establish and implement standards for 
     health information technology products used to access, 
     disclose, maintain, store, distribute, transmit, amend, or 
     dispose of protected health information in a manner that 
     protects the individual's right to privacy, confidentiality, 
     and security relating to that information.
       (2) Stakeholder participation.--In establishing the 
     standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure the 
     participation of various stakeholders, including patients and 
     consumer advocates, privacy advocates, experts in information 
     technology and information systems, and experts in health 
     care.
       (d) Report on Compliance.--Not later than January 1 of the 
     first calendar year beginning more than 1 year after the 
     establishment of the Office under subsection (a), and every 
     January 1 thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Director of the Office, shall prepare and submit to Congress 
     a report concerning the number of complaints of alleged 
     violations of this Act that are received during the year for 
     which the report is being prepared. Such report shall 
     describe the complaints and any remedial action taken 
     concerning such complaints and shall be made available to the 
     public on the Internet website of the Department of Health 
     and Human Services.

                        Subtitle B--Enforcement

                     CHAPTER 1--CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 311. WRONGFUL DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH 
                   INFORMATION.

       (a) In General.--Part I of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

   ``CHAPTER 124--WRONGFUL DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

     ``SEC. 2801. WRONGFUL DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH 
                   INFORMATION.

       ``(a) Offense.--The penalties described in subsection (b) 
     shall apply to a person that knowingly and intentionally--
       ``(1) obtains, uses, or attempts to obtain or use protected 
     health information relating to an individual in violation of 
     title II of the Health Information Privacy and Security Act; 
     or
       ``(2) discloses or attempts to disclose protected health 
     information to another person in violation of title II of the 
     Health Information Privacy and Security Act.
       ``(b) Penalties.--A person described in subsection (a) 
     shall--
       ``(1) be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned not more 
     than 1 year, or both;
       ``(2) if the offense is committed under false pretenses, be 
     fined not more than $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 
     years, or both; or
       ``(3) if the offense is committed with the intent to sell, 
     transfer, or use protected health information for commercial 
     advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm, be fined not 
     more than $500,000, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or any 
     combination of such penalties.
       ``(c) Subsequent Offenses.--In the case of a person 
     described in subsection (a), the maximum penalties described 
     in subsection (b) shall be doubled for every subsequent 
     conviction for an offense arising out of a violation or 
     violations related to a set of circumstances that are 
     different from those involved in the previous violation or 
     set of related violations described in such subsection 
     (a).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for part I 
     of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to chapter 123 the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 2801. Wrongful disclosure of protected health information.''

[[Page 19500]]



     SEC. 312. DEBARMENT FOR CRIMES AND CIVIL VIOLATIONS.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to prevent and 
     deter instances of intentional criminal actions that violate 
     criminal laws that are designed to protect the privacy of 
     protected health information in a manner consistent with this 
     Act.
       (b) Debarment.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation 
     with the Secretary, shall promulgate regulations and 
     establish procedures to permit the debarment of health care 
     providers, health researchers, health or life insurers, 
     employers, or schools or universities from receiving benefits 
     under any Federal health program or other Federal procurement 
     program if the managers or officers of such persons are found 
     guilty of violating section 2801 of title 18, United States 
     Code, have civil penalties imposed against such officers or 
     managers under section 321 in connection with the illegal 
     disclosure of protected health information, or are found 
     guilty of making a false statement or obstructing justice 
     related to attempting to conceal or concealing such illegal 
     disclosure. Such regulations shall take into account the need 
     for continuity of medical care and may provide for a delay of 
     any debarment imposed under this section to take into account 
     the medical needs of patients.
       (c) Consultation.--Prior to publishing a proposed rule to 
     implement subsection (b), the Attorney General shall consult 
     with State law enforcement officials, health care providers, 
     patient privacy rights' advocates, and other appropriate 
     persons, to gain additional information regarding the 
     debarment of persons under subsection (b) and the best 
     methods to ensure the continuity of medical care.
       (d) Report.--The Attorney General shall annually prepare 
     and submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
     Senate a report concerning the activities and debarment 
     actions taken by the Attorney General under this section.
       (e) Assistance to Prevent Criminal Violations.--The 
     Attorney General, in cooperation with any other appropriate 
     individual, organization, or agency, may provide advice, 
     training, technical assistance, and guidance regarding ways 
     to reduce the incidence of improper disclosure of protected 
     health information.
       (f) Relationship to Other Authorities.--A debarment imposed 
     under this section shall not reduce or diminish the authority 
     of a Federal, State, or local governmental agency or court to 
     penalize, imprison, fine, suspend, debar, or take other 
     adverse action against a person, in a civil, criminal, or 
     administrative proceeding.

                       CHAPTER 2--CIVIL SANCTIONS

     SEC. 321. CIVIL PENALTY.

       A health care provider, health researcher, health plan, 
     health oversight agency, public health agency, law 
     enforcement agency, employer, health or life insurer, school 
     or university, agent or other person described in section 
     102(a)(1), who the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Attorney General, determines has substantially and materially 
     failed to comply with this Act shall be subject, in addition 
     to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law--
       (1) in a case in which the violation relates to title I, to 
     a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each such 
     violation, but not to exceed $5,000 in the aggregate for 
     multiple violations;
       (2) in a case in which the violation relates to title II, 
     to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each such 
     violation, but not to exceed $50,000 in the aggregate for 
     multiple violations; or
       (3) in a case in which such violations have occurred with 
     such frequency as to constitute a general business practice, 
     to a civil penalty of not more than $100,000.

     SEC. 322. PROCEDURES FOR IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES.

       (a) Initiation of Proceedings.--The Attorney General, in 
     consultation with the Secretary, may initiate a proceeding in 
     United States District Court to recover a civil money penalty 
     under section 321. The Attorney General may not initiate an 
     action under this section with respect to any violation 
     described in section 321 after the expiration of the 6-year 
     period beginning on the date on which such violation was 
     alleged to have occurred. The Attorney General may initiate 
     an action under this section by filing a complaint pursuant 
     to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
       (b) Scope of Penalty.--In determining the amount or scope 
     of any penalty sought pursuant to section 321, the Attorney 
     General shall take into account--
       (1) the nature of claims and the circumstances under which 
     they were presented;
       (2) the degree of culpability, history of prior offenses, 
     and financial condition of the person against whom the claim 
     is brought; and
       (3) such other matters as justice may require.
       (c) Recovery of Penalties.--
       (1) In general.--Civil money penalties imposed under this 
     section may be recovered in a civil action in the name of the 
     United States brought in United States district court for the 
     district where the claim was presented, or where the claimant 
     resides, as determined by the Attorney General. Amounts 
     recovered under this section shall be paid to the United 
     States and deposited as miscellaneous receipts of the 
     Treasury of the United States.
       (2) Deduction from amounts owing.--The amount of any 
     penalty may be deducted from any sum then or later owing by 
     the United States or a State to the person against whom the 
     penalty has been assessed.
       (d) Injunctive Relief.--Whenever the Attorney General in 
     consultation with the Secretary has reason to believe that 
     any person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in 
     any activity which makes the person subject to a civil 
     monetary penalty under section 321, the Attorney General may 
     bring an action in an appropriate district court of the 
     United States (or, if applicable, a United States court of 
     any territory) to enjoin such activity, or to enjoin the 
     person from concealing, removing, encumbering, or disposing 
     of assets which may be required in order to pay a civil 
     monetary penalty if any such penalty were to be imposed or to 
     seek other appropriate relief.
       (e) Agency.--A principal is jointly and severally liable 
     with the principal's agent for penalties under section 321 
     for the actions of the principal's agent acting within the 
     scope of the agency.

     SEC. 323. CIVIL ACTION BY INDIVIDUALS.

       (a) In General.--Any individual whose rights under this Act 
     have been knowingly or negligently violated may bring a civil 
     action to recover--
       (1) such preliminary and equitable relief as the court 
     determines to be appropriate; and
       (2) the greater of compensatory damages or liquidated 
     damages of $5,000.
       (b) Punitive Damages.--In any action brought under this 
     section in which the individual has prevailed because of a 
     knowing violation of a provision of this Act, the court may, 
     in addition to any relief awarded under subsection (a), award 
     such punitive damages as may be warranted.
       (c) Attorney's Fees.--In the case of a civil action brought 
     under subsection (a) in which the individual has 
     substantially prevailed, the court may assess against the 
     respondent a reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation 
     costs and expenses (including expert fees) reasonably 
     incurred.
       (d) Limitation.--No action may be commenced under this 
     section more than 3 years after the date on which the 
     violation was or should reasonably have been discovered.
       (e) Agency.--A principal is jointly and severally liable 
     with the principal's agent for damages under this section for 
     the actions of the principal's agent acting within the scope 
     of the agency.
       (f) Venue; Service of Process.--
       (1) Venue.--An action shall be brought under subsection (a) 
     in the district court of the United States that meets 
     applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 
     of title 28, United States Code.
       (2) Service of process.--In an action brought under 
     subsection (a), process may be served in any district in 
     which the defendant--
       (A) is an inhabitant; and
       (B) may be found.
       (g) Additional Remedies.--The equitable relief or damages 
     that may be available under this section shall be in addition 
     to any other lawful remedy or award that may be available.

     SEC. 324. ENFORCEMENT BY STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Civil actions.--In any case in which the attorney 
     general of a State or any State or local law enforcement 
     agency authorized by the State attorney general or by State 
     law to prosecute violations of consumer protection laws, has 
     reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that 
     State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the 
     engagement of a person in a practice that is prohibited under 
     this subtitle, the State or local law enforcement agency on 
     behalf of the residents of the agency's jurisdiction, may 
     bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State 
     or jurisdiction in a district court of the United States of 
     appropriate jurisdiction to--
       (A) enjoin that act or practice;
       (B) enforce compliance with this subtitle; or
       (C) obtain civil penalties of not more than $1,000 per day 
     per individual whose personally identifiable information was, 
     or is reasonably believed to have been, accessed or acquired 
     by an unauthorized person, up to a maximum of $50,000 per 
     day.
       (2) Notice.--
       (A) In general.--Prior to filing an action under paragraph 
     (1), the attorney general of the State involved shall provide 
     to the Attorney General and Secretary--
       (i) written notice of the action; and
       (ii) a copy of the complaint for the action.
       (B) Exemption.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with 
     respect to the filing of an action by a State attorney 
     general under this subsection, if the attorney general of a 
     State determines that it is not feasible to provide the 
     notice described in this paragraph before the filing of the 
     action.
       (C) Notification when practicable.--In an action described 
     under subparagraph (B), the

[[Page 19501]]

     attorney general of a State shall provide the written notice 
     and a copy of the complaint to the Attorney General and 
     Secretary as soon after the filing of the complaint as 
     practicable.
       (b) Federal Proceedings.--Upon receiving notice under 
     subsection (a)(2), the Attorney General in consultation with 
     the Secretary, shall, have the right to--
       (1) move to stay the action, pending the final disposition 
     of a pending Federal proceeding or action;
       (2) intervene in an action brought under subsection (a)(2); 
     and
       (3) file petitions for appeal.
       (c) Pending Proceedings.--If the Attorney General has 
     instituted a proceeding or action for a violation of this 
     subtitle or any regulations thereunder, no attorney general 
     of a State may, during the pendency of such proceeding or 
     action, bring an action under this subtitle against any 
     defendant named in such criminal proceeding or civil action 
     for any violation that is alleged in that proceeding or 
     action.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of bringing any 
     civil action under subsection (a), nothing in this subtitle 
     regarding notification shall be construed to prevent an 
     attorney general of a State from exercising the powers 
     conferred on such attorney general by the laws of that State 
     to--
       (1) conduct investigations;
       (2) administer oaths or affirmations; or
       (3) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of 
     documentary and other evidence.
       (e) Venue; Service of Process.--
       (1) Venue.--Any action brought under subsection (a) may be 
     brought in the district court of the United States that meets 
     applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 
     of title 28, United States Code.
       (2) Service of process.--In an action brought under 
     subsection (a), process may be served in any district in 
     which the defendant--
       (A) is an inhabitant; or
       (B) may be found.

     SEC. 325. PROTECTION FOR WHISTLEBLOWER.

       (a) Prohibition Against Discrimination.--An employer may 
     not discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, retaliate 
     against, or in any other manner discriminate or cause any 
     employer to discriminate against an employee in the terms and 
     conditions of employment because of any lawful act committed 
     by the employee to provide information or cause information 
     to be provided to a State or Federal official relating to an 
     actual or suspected violation of this Act by an employer or 
     an employee of an employer.
       (b) Enforcement Actions.--
       (1) In general.--Any employee or former employee who 
     alleges discharge or discrimination by any person in 
     violation of subsection (a) may seek relief under subsection 
     (c), by--
       (A) filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor; or
       (B) if the Secretary has not issued a final decision within 
     180 days of the filing of the complaint under subparagraph 
     (A), and there is no showing that such delay is due to the 
     bad faith of the claimant, bringing an action at law or 
     equity for de novo review in the appropriate district court 
     of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such 
     an action without regard to the amount in controversy.
       (2) Procedures.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in this paragraph, the 
     complaint procedures contained in section 42121(b) of title 
     49, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a 
     complaint filed under paragraph (1)(A).
       (B) Exception.--With respect to a complaint filed under 
     paragraph (1)(A), the notification provided for under section 
     42121(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, (as required 
     under subparagraph (A)) shall be made to the person named in 
     the complaint and to the employer.
       (C) Burden of proof.--The legal burdens of proof contained 
     in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code, shall 
     apply to an action brought under paragraph (1)(B).
       (D) Statute of limitations.--An action shall be filed under 
     paragraph (1)(B), not later than 2 years after the date on 
     which the alleged violation occurs.
       (c) Remedies.--
       (1) In general.--If the district court determines in an 
     action under subsection (b)(1) that a violation of subsection 
     (a) has occurred, the court shall order any relief necessary 
     to make the employee whole.
       (2) Compensatory damages.--Relief in any action under 
     subsection (b)(1) shall include--
       (A) reinstatement of the employee to the employee's former 
     position with the same seniority status that the employee 
     would have had but for the discrimination;
       (B) payment of the amount of back pay, with interest, to 
     which the employee is entitled; and
       (C) the payment of compensation for any special damages 
     sustained by the employee as a result of the discrimination, 
     including litigation costs, expert witness fees, and 
     reasonable attorney fees.
       (d) Rights Retained by the Employee.--Nothing in this 
     section shall be construed to diminish or eliminate the 
     rights, privileges, or remedies available to an employee 
     under any Federal or State law, or under any collective 
     bargaining agreement.
       (e) Limitation.--The protections of this section shall not 
     apply to any employee who--
       (1) deliberately causes or participates in the alleged 
     violation; or
       (2) knowingly or recklessly provides materially false 
     information to an individual or entity described in 
     subsection (a).
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Employ.--The term ``employ'' has the meaning given such 
     term under section 3(g) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
     1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(g)) for the purposes of implementing the 
     requirements of that Act (29 U.S.C. 201, et seq.).
       (2) Employee.--The term ``employee'' means an individual 
     who is employed by an employer.
       (3) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means any person who 
     employs employees, including any person acting directly or 
     indirectly in the interest of any employer in relation to an 
     employee and includes a public agency.
       (g) General Prohibition Against Retaliation.--A person 
     described in section 102(a)(1), or any other person that 
     receives protected health information under this title, may 
     not adversely affect another person, directly or indirectly, 
     because such person has exercised a right under this Act, 
     disclosed information relating to a possible violation of 
     this Act, or associated with, or assisted, an individual in 
     the exercise of a right under this Act.

                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

     SEC. 401. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

       (a) Federal and State Laws.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed as preempting, superseding, or repealing, 
     explicitly or implicitly, other Federal or State laws or 
     regulations relating to protected health information or 
     relating to an individual's access to protected health 
     information or health care services, if such laws or 
     regulations provide protections for the rights of individuals 
     to the privacy of, and access to, their health information 
     that is greater than those provided for in this Act.
       (b) Privileges.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
     preempt or modify any provisions of State statutory or common 
     law to the extent that such law concerns a privilege of a 
     witness or person in a court of that State. This Act shall 
     not be construed to supersede or modify any provision of 
     Federal statutory or common law to the extent such law 
     concerns a privilege of a witness or entity in a court of the 
     United States. Authorizations pursuant to section 202 shall 
     not be construed as a waiver of any such privilege.
       (c) Certain Duties Under Law.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed to preempt, supersede, or modify the operation of 
     any State law that--
       (1) provides for the reporting of vital statistics such as 
     birth or death information;
       (2) requires the reporting of abuse or neglect information 
     about any individual;
       (3) regulates the disclosure or reporting of information 
     concerning an individual's mental health; or
       (4) governs a minor's rights to access protected health 
     information or health care services.
       (d) Federal Privacy Act.--
       (1) Medical exemptions.--Section 552a of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(w) Certain Protected Health Information.--The head of an 
     agency that is a health care provider, health plan, health 
     oversight agency, employer, insurer, health or life insurer, 
     school or university, or other entity who receives protected 
     health information under section 218 of the Health 
     Information Privacy and Security Act shall promulgate rules, 
     in accordance with the requirements (including general 
     notice) of subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), (c), (e) of 
     section 553 of this title, to exempt a system of records 
     within the agency, to the extent that the system of records 
     contains protected health information (as defined in section 
     4 of such Act), from all provisions of this section except 
     subsections (b)(6), (d), (e)(1), (e)(2), subparagraphs (A) 
     through (C) and (E) through (I) of subsection (e)(4), and 
     subsections (e)(5), (e)(6), (e)(9), (e)(12), (l), (n), (o), 
     (p), (r), and (u).''.
       (2) Technical amendment.--Section 552a(f)(3) of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``pertaining to 
     him,'' and all that follows through the semicolon and 
     inserting ``pertaining to the individual''.
       (e) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.--
     The standards governing the privacy and security of 
     individually identifiable health information promulgated by 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services under sections 
     262(a) and 264 of the Health Insurance Portability and 
     Accountability Act of 1996 shall remain in effect to the 
     extent that they are consistent with this Act. The Secretary 
     shall amend such Federal regulations as required to make such 
     regulations consistent with this Act.

     SEC. 402. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) Effective Date.--Unless specifically provided for 
     otherwise, this Act shall take effect on the date that is 12 
     months after the date of the promulgation of the regulations 
     required under subsection (b), or 30 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, whichever is earlier.
       (b) Regulations.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
     of enactment of this

[[Page 19502]]

     Act, or as specifically provided for otherwise, the Secretary 
     shall promulgate regulations implementing this Act.
                                  ____


            Keeping Patients' Details Private, Even From Kin

                            (By Jane Gross)

       An emergency room nurse in Palos Heights, Ill., told Gerard 
     Nussbaum he could not stay with his father-in-law while the 
     elderly man was being treated after a stroke. Another nurse 
     threatened Mr. Nussbaum with arrest for scanning his 
     relative's medical chart to prove to her that she was about 
     to administer a dangerous second round of sedatives.
       The nurses who threatened him with eviction and arrest both 
     made the same claim, Mr. Nussbaum said: that access to his 
     father-in-law and his medical information were prohibited 
     under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
     Act, or Hipaa, as the federal law is known.
       Mr. Nussbaum, a health care and Hipaa consultant, knew 
     better and stood his ground. Nothing in the law prevented his 
     involvement. But the confrontation drove home the way Hipaa 
     is misunderstood by medical professionals, as well as the 
     frustration--and even peril--that comes in its wake.
       Government studies released in the last few months show the 
     frustration is widespread, an unintended consequence of the 
     1996 law.
       Hipaa was designed to allow Americans to take their health 
     insurance coverage with them when they changed jobs, with 
     provisions to keep medical information confidential. But new 
     studies have found that some health care providers apply 
     Hipaa regulations overzealously, leaving family members, 
     caretakers, public health and law enforcement authorities 
     stymied in their efforts to get information.
       Experts say many providers do not understand the law, have 
     not trained their staff members to apply it judiciously, or 
     are fearful of the threat of fines and jail terms--although 
     no penalty has been levied in four years.
       Some reports blame the language of the law itself, which 
     says health care providers may share information with others 
     unless the patient objects, but does not require them to do 
     so. Thus, disclosures are voluntary and health care providers 
     are left with broad discretion.
       The unnecessary secrecy is a ``significant problem,'' said 
     Mark Rothstein, chairman of a privacy subcommittee that 
     advises the Department of Health and Human Services, which 
     administers Hipaa. ``It's drummed into them that there are 
     rules they have to follow without any perspective,'' he said 
     about health care providers. ``So, surprise, surprise, they 
     approach it in a defensive, somewhat arbitrary and 
     unreasonable way.''
       Susan McAndrew, deputy director of health information 
     privacy at the Department of Health and Human Services, said 
     that problems were less frequent than they once had been but 
     that health care providers continued to hide behind the law. 
     ``Either innocently or purposefully, entities often use this 
     as an excuse,'' she said. ``They say `Hipaa made me do it' 
     when, in fact, they chose for other reasons not to make the 
     permitted disclosures.''
       Mr. Rothstein, one of Hipaa's harshest critics, has led 
     years of hearings across the country. Transcripts of those 
     hearings, and accounts from hospital administrators, patient 
     advocates, lawyers, family members, and law enforcement 
     officials offer an anthology of Hipaa misinterpretations, 
     some alarming, some annoying:
       Birthday parties in nursing homes in New York and Arizona 
     have been canceled for fear that revealing a resident's date 
     of birth could be a violation.
       Patients were assigned code names in doctor's waiting 
     rooms--say, ``Zebra'' for a child in Newton, Mass., or 
     ``Elvis'' for an adult in Kansas City, Mo.--so they could be 
     summoned without identification.
       Nurses in an emergency room at St. Elizabeth Health Center 
     in Youngstown, Ohio, refused to telephone parents of ailing 
     students themselves, insisting a friend do it, for fear of 
     passing out confidential information, the hospital's patient 
     advocate said.
       State health departments throughout the country have been 
     slowed in their efforts to create immunization registries for 
     children, according to Dr. James J. Gibson, the director of 
     disease control in South Carolina, because information from 
     doctors no longer flows freely.
       Teaching staff to protect records is easier than teaching 
     them to share them, said Robert N. Swidler, general counsel 
     for Northeast Health, a nonprofit network in Troy, N.Y., that 
     includes several hospitals.
       ``Over time, the staff has become a little more flexible 
     and humane,'' Mr. Swidler said. ``But nurses aren't lawyers. 
     This is a hyper-technical law and it tells them they may 
     disclose but doesn't say they have to.''
       Many experts, including critics like Mr. Rothstein and 
     proponents like Ms. McAndrew, distinguish different 
     categories of secrecy.
       There are ``good faith nondisclosures,'' as when a floor 
     nurse takes a phone call from someone claiming to be a family 
     member but cannot verify that person's identity. Then there 
     are ``bad faith nondisclosures,'' like using Hipaa as an 
     excuse for not taking the time to gather records that public 
     health officials need to help child abuse investigators 
     trying to build a case.
       Most common are seat-of-the-pants decisions made by 
     employees who feel safer saying ``no'' than ``yes'' in the 
     face of ambiguity.
       That seemed to be what happened to his own mother, Mr. 
     Rothstein said, when she called her doctor's office to 
     discuss a problem. She was told by the receptionist that the 
     doctor was not available, Mr. Rothstein said, and then 
     inquired if the doctor was with a patient or out of the 
     office. ``I can't tell you because of Hipaa,'' came the 
     reply. In fact the doctor was home sick, which would have 
     been helpful information in deciding whether to wait for a 
     call back or head for the emergency room.
       The law, medical professionals and privacy experts said, 
     has had the positive effect of making confidentiality a 
     priority as the nation moves toward fully computerized, 
     cradle-to-grave medical records.
       But safeguarding electronic privacy required a tangle of 
     regulations issued in 2003, followed last year by 101 pages 
     of ``administrative simplification.''
       Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, a 
     sponsor of the original insurance portability law, was 
     dismayed by the ``bizarre hodgepodge'' of regulations layered 
     onto it, several staff members said, and by the department's 
     failure to provide ``adequate guidance on what is and is not 
     barred by the law.'' To that end, Mr. Kennedy, along with 
     Senator Patrick M. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, plans to 
     introduce legislation creating an office within the 
     Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to 
     interpreting and enforcing medical privacy.
       ``In this electronic era it is essential to safeguard the 
     privacy of medical records while insuring our privacy laws do 
     not stifle the flow of information fundamental to effective 
     health care,'' Mr. Kennedy said.
       This spring, the department revised its Web site, 
     www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa, in the interest of clarity. But Hipaa 
     continues to baffle even the experts.
       Ms. McAndrew explained some of the do's and don'ts of 
     sharing information in a telephone interview:
       Medical professionals can talk freely to family and 
     friends, unless the patient objects. No signed authorization 
     is necessary and the person receiving the information need 
     not have the legal standing of, say, a health care proxy or 
     power of attorney. As for public health authorities or those 
     investigating crimes like child abuse, Hipaa defers to state 
     laws, which often, though not always, require such 
     disclosure. Medical workers may not reveal confidential 
     information about a patient or case to reporters, but they 
     can discuss general health issues.
       Ms. McAndrew said there was no way to know how often 
     information was withheld. Of the 27,778 privacy complaints 
     filed since 2003, the only cases investigated, she said, were 
     complaints filed by patients who were denied access to their 
     own information, the one unambiguous violation of the law.
       Complaints not investigated include the plights of adult 
     children looking after their parents from afar. Experts say 
     family members frequently hear, ``I can't tell you that 
     because of Hipaa,'' when they call to check on the patient's 
     condition.
       That is what happened to Nancy Banks, who drove from 
     Bartlesville, Okla., to her mother's bedside at Town and 
     Country Hospital in Tampa, Fla., last week because Ms. Banks 
     could not find out what she needed to know over the 
     telephone.
       Her 82-year-old mother had had a stroke. When Ms. Banks 
     called her room she heard her mother ``screaming and yelling 
     and crying,'' but conversation was impossible. So Ms. Banks 
     tried the nursing station.
       Whoever answered the phone was not helpful, so Ms. Banks 
     hit the road. Twenty-two hours later, she arrived at the 
     hospital.
       But more of the same awaited her. She said her mother's 
     nurse told her that ``because of the Hipaa laws I can get in 
     trouble if I tell you anything.''
       In the morning, she could speak to the doctor, she was 
     told.
       The next day, Ms. Banks was finally informed that her 
     mother had had heart failure and that her kidneys were 
     shutting down.
       ``I understand privacy laws, but this has gone too far,'' 
     Ms. Banks said. ``I'm her daughter. This isn't right.''
       A hospital spokeswoman, Elena Mesa, was asked if nurses 
     were following Hipaa protocol when they denied adult children 
     information about their parents.
       She could not answer the question, Ms. Mesa said, because 
     Hipaa prevented her from such discussions with the press.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join my friend and 
colleague Senator Leahy in introducing the Protection of Health 
Information Privacy and Security Act of 2006. Protecting the privacy of 
patients' health information is a major priority in health reform, and 
I look forward to the enactment of this legislation to do so.
  In 1996, the Senate enacted HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability 
and

[[Page 19503]]

Accountability Act, which I introduced with Senator Kassebaum. That law 
gave Americans the ability to continue their health insurance when they 
changed jobs. It has become clear, however, that the privacy rules 
under the act have not succeeded in protecting patients adequately.
  Since HIPAA became law, numerous privacy bills to protect personal 
health information have been introduced in Congress, but none of them 
has been enacted.
  In fact, the HIPAA law required the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to develop privacy regulations if Congress failed to enact 
privacy rules by August 1999. When Congress did not act, the Department 
of Health and Human Services prescribed privacy rules, but its 
authority to do so under HIPAA was limited to regulating only the 
privacy-related activities of three specific ``covered entities,'' 
health care providers, payers, and clearinghouses. Other entities, such 
as schools, employers, and health agencies, can be regulated only 
indirectly, as business associates of covered entities, even though 
many of them also possess confidential health data.
  This indirect oversight has made it very difficult to enforce 
implementation of the Department's safeguards for entities other than 
the three specifically listed in the HIPAA privacy rule. The result is 
that Americans continue to be at risk of having their personal medical 
records and other confidential health information wrongly distributed 
and exposed without their authorization, and often even without their 
knowledge.
  One common problem involves domestic and offshore outsourcing. HIPAA-
covered entities and business associates can hire outside companies, 
either in the U.S. or in other countries, to do work for them. The 
tasks of those outside companies may require them to obtain personal 
health information. There is widespread concern, however, that once 
this private information leaves the original holder, the legitimacy of 
any subsequent disclosure of it becomes much more difficult to enforce.
  Obviously, we need to revise our approach to health information 
privacy in order to protect the rights of those who rely on their 
doctors and their Government to safeguard their private information.
  The pending health information technology bill, S. 1693, was the 
subject of much discussion on this issue. Some feel that the bill 
should include more extensive privacy regulations than it does. But 
that measure is not the best vehicle to restructure health-information 
privacy. Attempting to rewrite privacy rules through health IT 
legislation would be a piecemeal approach to correcting the 
shortcomings of privacy protections. The Health Information Privacy and 
Security Act presents an opportunity to make comprehensive improvements 
to health privacy protections. Addressing health information privacy 
through this legislation will ensure the security of patients' 
information, in any form, electronic or otherwise.
  The bill that Senator Leahy and I are introducing today corrects the 
longstanding errors in the ways in which confidential patient 
information is handled and distributed. We live in a time when 
Americans are increasingly aware of breaches of their privacy. It is 
essential for us to enact effective reforms to protect all Americans 
from further infringements on their health privacy.
  The system now in place allows much of importance to fall through the 
cracks. Enforcement has been inadequate. The Office for Civil Rights of 
the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for 
the enforcement of HIPAA, has received more than 20,000 complaints, but 
it has not imposed any civil penalties in response. The Department of 
Justice has effectively prosecuted only four criminal violations of 
HIPAA.
  A few examples illustrate the problem. In June 2006, the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid reported that the health information of 17,000 
Americans whose insurance plans are provided by Humana, Inc. was at 
risk because of unsecured computer data. Last September, the Government 
Accountability Office urged Medicare to implement stronger oversight 
over the transmission of private health records. A GAO survey had found 
that almost half of all responding Medicare Advantage contractors 
admitted to recent breaches of privacy of health records. In addition, 
the number of health plan providers that identified themselves as 
``mostly compliant'' with HIPAA's privacy regulations decreased from 91 
percent in 2005 to 85 percent in 2006. These findings demonstrate that 
patients' right to know and authorize who views their medical 
information is being neglected.
  Americans live in a democracy where they believe, rightly, that they 
themselves should have the power to decide when, and to whom, their 
health information is disclosed. The bill we are introducing today will 
better enable Federal privacy rules to fulfill that expectation.
  This bill complements and strengthens Federal privacy regulations by 
adding more effective oversight and individuals' access to their own 
personal information. It requires the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services to revise the HIPAA Privacy Rule to make it 
consistent with this act.
  The bill gives each American the full ability to obtain and modify 
any of their health records, whether the records are carried by one of 
the HIPAA Privacy Rule's three ``covered entities'' or by any other 
entity. Except in rare cases, authorization by an individual is 
required before any other person or entity can disclose, obtain, or use 
that individual's protected health information.
  The bill also addresses the existing outsourcing problem by improving 
transparency. Any entity that entrusts outside agents or overseas 
providers with personal health information must publish their names and 
ensure that they abide by the required privacy and security measures.
  The act requires all entities that deal with protected health 
information in any way to implement safeguards to protect that 
information. Such entities must also maintain safeguards that are up-
to-date with current technology.
  Any entity that possesses or obtains an individual's protected health 
information is required to give that individual a notice of privacy 
rights and practices, including the individual's right to be alerted if 
a security breach concerning the information occurs. Individuals are 
also promised a clear description of who will have access to their 
personal health information and how the information will be used. In 
this way, people will always be aware of what is going on with their 
private information. They will feel more secure about it, and be more 
secure.
  The bill also establishes a demonstration grant program to help those 
who have low health literacy or limited english-language proficiency to 
exercise their privacy rights and avoid cultural or linguistic 
barriers.
  This Act also creates a new office in the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Office of Health Information Privacy, which will 
oversee investigations of alleged violations and verify compliance with 
the act. This office will also be responsible for establishing and 
implementing standards and product certifications for systems and 
networks that handle protected health information. Until now, many 
entities have been confused about how to implement health privacy 
regulations. This new office will help them understand Federal privacy 
rules, so that they can conduct their business accordingly.
  Federal privacy regulations now in place also make it difficult to 
prosecute illegal activities. The Office of Health Information Privacy 
will be charged with resolving this problem. It will do so in part by 
instituting penalties for wrongful sharing or use of private health 
information by any entity.
  Overall, a delicate balance must be struck. On one hand, we must 
allow the sharing of information necessary for effective health care. 
At the same time, however, we must protect Americans' right to have 
their health records and

[[Page 19504]]

individual health information kept private. For too long, the balance 
has been tilted too far against patient privacy, and our bill is a 
needed effort to correct that imbalance.
  Americans deserve stronger guarantees of patient privacy, more 
helpful guidelines for security implementation, and more dependable 
enforcement and penalties for the misuse of protected health 
information. I look forward to the early enactment of this legislation 
to achieve these important goals.

                          ____________________