August 17, 2001

In This Issue:
Medicaid Changes, Tobacco and Alcohol, Patient Privacy Rules, Complementary and Alternative Therapies Weight Can Affect Mortality, Increases in HMO Premiums

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THE LATEST NEWS

Big Tobacco Still Pushing Cigs To Kids

Alcohol Use Increases Risk Of Genetic Instability in Colon Tumors

Steep Increases Projected for HMO Premiums

Bush Revises Medicaid Patient Protections

Increased Weight Means Increased Mortality In Younger Breast Cancer Patients

cancerpage updates the news twice daily.

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CONSUMER CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH INFORMATION

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is supposed to save money for health care businesses by encouraging electronic transactions, but it also requires new safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of patients' information. Patients have significant new rights to control how their health information is used. The final rule took effect on April 14, 2001. As required by the HIPAA law, most health providers have two full years - until April 14, 2003 - to fully comply with the final rule's provisions.

1. Patient education on privacy protections: Providers and health plans will be required to give patients a clear written explanation of how the providers may use and disclose their health information.

2. Ensuring patient access to their medical records: Patients will be able to see and get copies of their records, and request changes.

3. Receiving patient consent before information is released: Health care providers who see patients will be required to obtain patient consent before sharing their information about a patient's treatment, payment, and health care operations. In addition, separate patient authorization must be obtained for certain disclosures and most non-health care purposes. Patients will have the right to request restrictions on the uses and disclosures of their information. For more information, visit the federal website:

http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/admnsimp/Index.htm

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CONFERENCE ON COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Health professionals as well as survivors, patients, and families are welcome to participate in the annual conference is presented from Oct. 19-21 in Arlington, VA (just outside Washington, DC) by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. The program is supported by

the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Cancer Institute in collaboration with the American Cancer Society and other cancer organizations. For further information and registration, call 301-353-1808 or visit www.cmbm.org.