Privacy - Local Open Government Blog http://www.localopengovernment.com/articles/in-the-news/ en-us Copyright 2010 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:07:48 -0800 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:45:14 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Medical Privacy should always be considered in responding to Public Records Act requests In addition to federal HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) requirements, the Washington State Medical Records Act, Chapter 70.02 RCW places strict limits upon the disclosure of health care information. These limits apply to all health care providers, not only to hospitals. This includes anyone who "is licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized by the law of this state to provide health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession." An example would be EMT services provided by fire departments and fire districts. The Public Records Act specifically incorporates the Washington Medical Records Act at RCW 42.56.360. Washington's privacy protections are thus different from and in addition to those provided by federal law under HIPAA. More information regarding HIPAA is available at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services HIPAA website

 

]]> http://www.localopengovernment.com/2010/01/articles/public-records/medical-privacy-should-always-be-considered-in-responding-to-public-records-act-requests/ http://www.localopengovernment.com/2010/01/articles/public-records/medical-privacy-should-always-be-considered-in-responding-to-public-records-act-requests/ HIPAAMedical RecordsPrivacyPublic RecordsState laws Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:07:48 -0800 Sven Peterson U.S. Supreme Court to Address Privacy of Text Messages Sent on Employer-Owned Devices The Seattle Times reported this week that the United State Supreme Court announced that it would consider whether an employee has a right to privacy when sending and receiving text messages on an employer-owned electronic device. The case is City of Ontario v. Quon, and is an appeal from a 2008 Ninth Circuit ruling (Quon v. Archwireless Operating Company, Inc.). In that case the Ninth Circuit held that an employee’s right to privacy outweighed the public employer’s right to audit text messages sent from its employer-issued pagers. See our 2008 news alert for more information about the Ninth Circuit ruling. 

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case in the spring and issue a decision by the end of June 2010.

]]> http://www.localopengovernment.com/2009/12/articles/in-the-courts/us-supreme-court-to-address-privacy-of-text-messages-sent-on-employerowned-devices/ http://www.localopengovernment.com/2009/12/articles/in-the-courts/us-supreme-court-to-address-privacy-of-text-messages-sent-on-employerowned-devices/ City of Ontario v. QuonIn the courtsIn the newsNinth Circuit Court of AppealsPrivacyQuon v. ArchwirelessSearchSupreme courtText messagesWeb 2.0 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:11:41 -0800 Rosa Fruehling-Watson Open Government in the News: Washington State Here are recent open government headlines from Washington State -- thanks to WaCOG andOg-Blog for finding these.

"D'Amico wins open records suit against Jefferson County for Commissioner Sullivan's phone calls"  Port Townsend Leader

"Records show WWU hushing of information, criticism of student newspaper article" Bellingham Herald

"Monroe's business gets done in secret"  Everett Herald

]]> http://www.localopengovernment.com/2009/07/articles/in-the-news/open-government-in-the-news-washington-state/ http://www.localopengovernment.com/2009/07/articles/in-the-news/open-government-in-the-news-washington-state/ In the newsOpen Public MeetingsOpen Public Meetings ActPrivacyPublic RecordsPublic Records ActState lawsTaxpayer costs Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:06:55 -0800 Ramsey Ramerman