The Privacy Illusion. A Senator is grilling EHR vendors, proving patient control is still a myth


 Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has launched an inquiry into major Electronic Health Record (EHR) vendors, including Epic, Oracle Health, and Athenahealth, demanding better tools for patient data privacy. Wyden argues that despite federal mandates against "information blocking," patients still lack meaningful control over who accesses their medical history. He frames this not just as a consumer right, but as a national security issue, citing risks where widespread data sharing could expose sensitive information to bad actors or foreign adversaries.

The push is already yielding results. In response to the pressure, Epic has announced new features for its MyChart portal that will allow patients to "freeze" their records or opt out of broad data-sharing networks. However, Wyden warns that the default settings of many interoperability networks favor "open access" over privacy, often leaving sensitive data exposed to thousands of providers without explicit patient consent. The Senator’s move highlights a growing tension in digital health: the need to balance the clinical benefits of seamless data exchange with the imperative to protect patient data from unauthorized surveillance and misuse.

Read the original article at: https://www.healthcareinfosecurity.com/senator-presses-ehr-vendors-on-patient-privacy-controls-a-30323


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