The online publication, NextGov has a good article that further outlines the new privacy framework that Sec. Leavitt announced on Monday during the NHIN event being held in DC.  Article is the best one I have seen yet on the subject (all the HIT rags have been pretty abysmal covering this announcement).

Reflecting back on the presentation I gave to Sec. Leavitt in late July, one of the key topics on which there was much discussion pertained to how does the government help insure that consumer’s health records remain private and in their control within a PHR construct.  I’ve come to realize that one of the key points I made to the Secretary regarding this important issue (in fact I practically begged him) was to not be prescriptive in defining such policies, but set-up guideposts.  The analogy I used was: “Put up guardrails, do not put down railroad tracks.” The new Privacy Framework announced this week does just that!

I’m sure I am not the only one who gave such advice, but damn it feels good to think that maybe, just maybe, I had some influence on their internal deliberations that resulted in what was published by HHS this week.

For sure, a very nice ending to the year.