United States · Bill · S
S. 2609 (105th)
Medical Information Protection Act of 1998
Introduced
9 October 1998
Last action
—
Status
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Sponsors
—
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
21 August 2025
Summary
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Individual's Rights Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure Title III: Sanctions Subtitle A: Criminal Provisions Subtitle B: Civil Sanctions Title IV: Miscellaneous Medical Information Protection Act of 1998 - Title I: Individual's Rights - Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information - Requires specified health entities in possession of protected health information to arrange (except in certain circumstances) for its inspection or copying upon the request of the individual subject of such information (subject individual). Prescribes procedures for: (1) notification upon request denial, including the reasons for such denial, and the concomitant review procedures; (2) requests by such individual to amend such information; and (3) conspicuous disclosure of such entities' confidentiality practices. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to develop model notices of confidentiality. Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards - Mandates the establishment of: (1) administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for protected health information; and (2) a record of any protected health information disclosures not made within the health entity. Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure - Prescribes guidelines for disclosure of protected health information with respect to: (1) authorizations for treatment, payment, and health care operations; (3) the individual's next of kin and directory information; (4) emergency circumstances; (5) certain oversight agencies; (6) public health authorities; (7) health researchers; (8) civil, judicial, and administrative procedures; (9) certain law enforcement procedures; (10) payment for health care through card or electronic means; (11) certain duly authorized representatives acting on behalf of a subject individual (including a deceased subject individual, and a minor); and (12) certain business sales, transfers, or mergers. (Sec. 212) Directs the Secretary to promulgate protected health information standards for electronic disclosures, authorizations, and authentications. (Sec. 214) Precludes permissible disclosures from liability. Title III: Sanctions - Subtitle A: Criminal Provisions - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties for knowingly and intentionally obtaining or disclosing protected health information in violation of title II of this Act. Subtitle B: Civil Sanctions - Establishes civil monetary penalties for substantial and material failure to comply with this Act. (Sec. 312) Prescribes a procedure for imposition and judicial review of such penalties. (Sec. 313) Grants exclusive enforcement authority to the insurance commissioner of the life insurer's domicile State. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Preempts, subject to exceptions, any State law relating to matters covered by this Act. (Sec. 401) Authorizes the Secretaries of Defense and of Transportation to establish exceptions to the disclosure requirements of this Act with respect to Department of Defense and Coast Guard personnel, respectively, pursuant to the Secretaries' determination that exceptions are necessary for national defense purposes. (Sec. 402) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) of the Social Security Act to provide for enforcement of this Act through conditions on participation with respect to: (1) participating physicians and suppliers; (2) Medicare+Choice organizations; (3) Medicare providers; and (4) health maintenance organizations with risk-sharing contracts. (Sec. 404) Directs the National Research Council, in conjunction with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, to study and report to the Congress on research issues relating to protected health information.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
No timeline events have been ingested for this record yet.
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 9 October 1998
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 9 October 1998
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 9 October 1998
Sponsors
No sponsors or actors listed by the source.
Related records
No cross-record relationships stored yet.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2609
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/105/s/2609