Key players agree on PHR framework

A group of the leading lights in the PHR world have come together to endorse a PHR standard, potentially putting to bed the initial arguments over what a PHR actually is and shifting participants' energy to improving features. Connecting for Heath's "Common Framework for Networked Personal Health Information," which was developed over a number of years, has gotten the thumbs-up from Google, Microsoft, WebMD, Dossia, Aetna, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and America's Health Insurance plans. A number of provider organizations were involved in the development of the framework and have endorsed the the final result, including Geisinger Health System, the VA and Partners HealthCare. 

While the framework should help a great deal in creating interoperable health data sets, it won't resolve a key legal issue--whether these new patient data compilations should be protected under HIPAA. Right now, the majority of entities offering PHRs--such as Google, Microsoft and WebMD--aren't defined as "covered entities" by HIPAA, and so they aren't technically required to meet HIPAA standards. The players also face ongoing struggles over how to protect privacy, which isn't defined in the framework.

To learn more about the framework:
- read this Modern Physician piece [1] (reg. req.)

Related Articles:
AHIMA demands better PHR privacy protections [2]
Addressing ID verification could spur PHR adoption [3]
HIPAA privacy officer job expanding quickly [4]