The Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) has launched new framework, developed to improve patient privacy, enhance innovation and streamline the appropriate use of healthcare data.
According to HITRUST, its de-identification framework, meets the need of healthcare organizations for greater guidance and consistency in the de-identification and use of de-identified healthcare data, while simplifying and streamlining the process.
“De-identification is a key method for protecting privacy by preventing a patient’s identity from being connected with health information and is a core component of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule,” it said.
HITRUST will hold a webinar on March 24, 2015 to brief the industry on this development and simultaneously release a draft of the new framework for an open comment period of 30 days.
“HITRUST believes clearer guidelines in the form of standards for the uses of de-identified data and managing associated risks are needed,” said Daniel Nutkis, chief executive officer of HITRUST. “Since the de-identification process needs to take into consideration the environmental safeguards in place housing the de-identified data, the HITRUST CSF was the logical vehicle to align it with.”
HITRUST, Risk Management, IT and Data Security, US, Daniel Nutkis, Insurance