Senators sound the alarm on privacy, call for HIPAA update

Senators Michael Bennet and Catherine Cortez Masto have written a letter to the Health and Human Services Secretary, urging HHS to update the HIPAA Privacy Rule to better protect the health information of patients seeking reproductive healthcare. The recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has created uncertainty about patients’ privacy rights related to abortion decisions. The senators called on HHS to clarify who is a covered entity, limit information sharing on abortion, and ensure Pregnancy Care Centers are bound by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. They emphasized the need to protect patients’ fundamental right to privacy.