We have, for the most part, all signed the HIPAA forms we’ve been presented with by our doctors. I have. I don’t know, however, if I’ve ever actually READ one.
In case you don’t know it, HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that was passed by Congress in 1996. Among its provisions: The ability to transfer and continue health insurance coverage for millions of American workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs; reduction of heath care fraud and abuse, mandating of industry-wide standards for health care information on electronic billing and other processes and requirement of the protection and confidential handling of protected health information.
Okay.
But is a person who holds public office (particularly high public office like the presidency) entitled to the same protection as those of us who don’t? Should a candidate or official’s medical records be public?
That’s the ethical question we tackled today with Dr. Barron Lerner, an Internist and Professor in the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU’s prestigious Langone Health. We kept it fair, addressing both President Trump and Vice President Biden’s medical records and health issues.
Have a listen and see what side you’re on.
