October 11, 2010

Selling De-Identified Electronic Medical Records in Texas

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has sold de-identified data from electronic medical records, according to a study in the Austin Bulldog and reported by CNNMoney.com. DSHS claims to have sold the data only to groups that could prove the information would be used for research. About 100 groups bought data from 2009 to 2010. DSHS charged between $2,100 and $5,600 per year for data collected after 2007, less than $1,000 per year for data collected between 2004 and 2006 and no fee for data collected before 2003. Critics say privacy is at risk because de-identification is not foolproof. The process leaves some data points intact, which could allow re-identification.

To read the CNNMoney.com article, click here.

Search: Texas Department of State Health Services, privacy

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