US Congress considers medical privacy bill

The US Congress is considering passing the nation's first comprehensive medical privacy bill. The multipart legislation–termed the Medical Information Privacy and Security Act (MIPSA)—would require a patient's consent before the transfer of medical records. Congress has set a deadline of August 1999 for debate about the bill.

A statement issued by the bill's sponsor, Democratic senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said MIPSA would create “a set of rules and norms to govern the disclosure of personal health …