How do HIPAA and other privacy regulations affect data collection and public reporting?
Community quality collaboratives may encounter opposition to the release of protected health information, from advocates of both patient privacy and physician privacy. In this environment, meeting State and Federal security standards for data sharing is critical to ensuring continued access to valuable data. This answer addresses the Federal issues around reporting, but community quality collaboratives are encouraged to learn about the specific privacy laws applicable in their State. Adhering fully to all of the various privacy laws and regulations affecting data collection and public reporting can be quite complex, especially given the variability in State laws and the intricacies of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These laws and regulations dictate what and how health care information can be shared. Formal data sharing or business associate agreements must be in place prior to sharing or receiving protected health information. As described fur
