Latest California Healthline Stories
California Officials Advance Efforts To Rein In Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Firms
Bonnie Sorensen of the Department of Public Health, Linda Avey, co-founder of a genetic testing company, Gail Javitt of Johns Hopkins University and Matthew Daynard of the Federal Trade Commission discuss genetic testing for consumers.
California Researchers Say New VA Policy Hurts Cancer Studies
The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains that new restrictions on cancer data are intended to shore up patient privacy protections. Researchers argue that the rules will stymie data collection efforts in California, the source of about half of cases reported to a U.S. registry.
VA Data Theft Raises Privacy Questions
The recent theft of millions of veterans’ and military personnel’s records has drawn attention to security practices at the Department of Veterans Affairs, as efforts begin to determine the extent of the potential damage and how they can prevent future incidents.
Report Compares Confidentiality of Electronic, Paper-Based Records
In an effort to contextualize concerns about the confidentiality of electronic health records, the National Alliance for Health Information Technology this month published a report that compares the security of paper and electronic medical records.
Data From Medicare Drug Benefit Eyed for Rx Safety Project
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan in May proposed using prescription drug information collected through the new Medicare drug benefit to improve FDA surveillance systems. McClellan and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt have said personal data will remain secure, but some advocates have raised questions.