On June 15, APA Services submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (PDF, 182KB)opens in new window on its proposed rule to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996opens in new window (HIPAA). The modifications would prohibit the use of medical records for the purposes of conducting a criminal, civil, or administrative investigation as it relates to reproductive health services.
The association’s comments emphasize the important role privacy and confidentiality play in health care decisions, especially in psychology. The modifications proposed by HHS seek to strengthen the department’s June 2022 guidanceopens in new window in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion care.
In response to the growing number of states that have proposed or enacted legislation impacting reproductive health decisions, APA’s Council of Representatives passed a resolution in February 2023 affirming the need for confidentiality and ethical practice in reproductive health care (PDF, 51KB)opens in new window.
APA Services will continue to work with HHS to protect provider-patient confidentiality in reproductive health decisions.
For more information, contact Stefanie Reeves.