OCR Launches Portal for Public to Submit Questions on Mhealth and HIPAA

OCR launched http://HIPAAQsportal.hhs.gov, a platform for mobile health developers and others interested in the intersection of health information technology and HIPAA privacy protection.  Anyone may browse the site, which is on the Ideascale cloud-based idea management platform.  Users who want to submit questions, offer comments on other submissions or vote on how relevant the topic is will sign in using their email address, but their identities and addresses will be anonymous to OCR.  OCR will consider the input provided on this site in developing our guidance and technical assistance efforts.

We are experiencing an explosion of technology using data about the health of individuals in innovative ways to improve health outcomes. Building privacy and security protections into technology products enhances their value by providing some assurance to users that the information is safe and secure and will be used and disclosed only as approved or expected. Such protections are sometimes required by federal and state laws, including the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules.

Yet many mHealth developers are not familiar with the HIPAA Rules and how the rules would apply to their products. Use this site to help OCR understand what guidance on HIPAA regulations would be helpful. Please tell us: What topics should we address in guidance? What current provisions leave you scratching your heads? How should this guidance look in order to make it more understandable, more accessible? Use this page to submit questions about HIPAA. Or present a use case. Look at what peers are discussing, comment on it and vote on which topics or use cases would be the most helpful or important.

Anyone may browse the site. Posting or commenting on a question on this site will not subject anyone to enforcement action. We will be moderating submissions for appropriateness but we cannot vouch for the accuracy of their representations. We cannot respond individually to questions, although we will try to post links to existing relevant resources when we can. OCR appreciates input and will consider comments as we develop our priorities for additional guidance and technical assistance.

We value your continued engagement on these important issues.