Patient Advocates to Hold News Conference TODAY Calling on Congress to Ensure Medical Privacy Protections

Safeguards Need to Be Part of Funding for Implementation of Health IT
Systems in Economic Stimulus Package

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
January 14, 2009

Contact: Ashley Katz, Patient Privacy Rights, (512) 732-0033, akatz {at} patientprivacyrights(.)org; or
Matthew Allee, American Civil Liberties Union, (202) 675-2336, mallee {at} dcaclu(.)org

WASHINGTON — The Coalition for Patient Privacy is scheduled to hold a news conference today to call on Congress to include much-needed privacy protections with any funding given to implement health IT systems in the proposed economic stimulus package. The Coalition for Patient Privacy represents more than 25 advocacy groups and 10 million Americans concerned about the safety of their private medical records.

During the event, coalition partners will call on Congress to “A.C.T.”, by providing: accountability for access to health records, control of personal information, and transparency to protect medical consumers from abuse. Consumer trust is essential to health IT adoption and participation and only attainable with privacy safeguards. There will also be statements from members of Congress representing both political parties, giving their support to the protection of privacy rights.

WHAT:
News conference calling on Congress to protect individual medical privacy

WHO:
The Coalition for Patient Privacy, representing over 25 advocacy organizations; speakers will include:
Timothy Sparapani, senior legislative counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
Michelle De Mooy, national priorities associate, Consumer Action
James Finley, senior government relations associate, National Association of Social Workers
Ashley Katz, executive director, Patient Privacy Rights
** Tentative: Frank Torres, director of consumer affairs, Microsoft

WHEN:
TODAY, January 14, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. EST

WHERE:
304 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
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