Action Alert!
Contact Senators and Representatives Now to PROTECT HEALTH PRIVACY
February 9, 2009
Background: The Senate will soon finish debate on its version of the economic stimulus bill (H.R.1), which includes critical health privacy protections within its section on health information technology. The Senate’s final vote may occur tomorrow, thus rapidly sending the bill to conference with the House to reconcile their differences. The House and Senate versions of H.R. 1 have significant differences on health privacy protections for consumers, and NASW is focused on strengthening these privacy protections in the conference. For more background on NASW activities on H.R. 1 click this link.
Action Required:
Social workers should contact their Senators and Representatives immediately and continue contacting them until the economic stimulus bill (H.R. 1) has passed both Houses of Congress and is sent to the President for signature. Social workers should tell their Senators and Representatives to:
(a) Inclusion of strong protections for the psychotherapist-patient privilege in the Senate and House bill. Social workers strongly support section 4405(g) of the House version of HR. 1, and we urge Senators to add it to their bill on the floor and to retain them in any subsequent conference report.
(b) Rejection of any provisions that weaken the health privacy protections in the H.R. 1 bill sections on health information technology, and seek the strongest possible protections in the final version of this bill.