Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania says HIPAA Regulations hurt Patients and Doctors!

Harrisburg, PA - The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania today denounced the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as a "cure worse than the disease" and called for the passage of H.R.1699, the Patient Privacy Act.

HIPAA's scope extends beyond commerce-related issues of standardizing health care information for administrative purposes to also include reporting requirements that can force some doctors to turn over private medical records for review without patient consent. This includes even intermediate paper records about a patient's diagnosis, treatment and assessment. Now federal and state agencies, law enforcement, and government contractors can see this information without a search warrant.

HIPAA regulations put physicians in a difficult situation. Ethical considerations require keeping patient information confidential, but regulatory considerations require disclosure. Tim Crowley, the Libertarian Party Chair of Allegheny County remarked, "Doctors and nurses are now so busy passing out confidentiality forms that they have little time for the practice of medicine. Your records may be more secure from the office staff, but they are now centralized and available to over a dozen federal and state agencies without a warrant. This is a case of the cure being worse than the disease."

Commenting on HIPAA's unintended consequences, Ken Krawchuk, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania added, "Imagine how much tougher a doctor's job will be if his or her patients no longer trust doctors and then don't tell all their symptoms. This doesn't help, it hurts."

Earlier this month Rep. Ron Paul (R, 14th TX), a physician and the 1988 Libertarian Party candidate for President, introduced H.R. 1699, the Patient Privacy Act addressing these questionable disclosures. The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania urges physicians and patients alike to support this legislation.

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