>>From: Linda McKnight (65) This is a plea to all those wonderful Bombers out here. I need you all to write letters if you will as soon as possible regarding a very important issue that potentially affects every one of us, our children, and grandchildren regarding our medical and personal privacy, and I also believe our freedom and our protection from potential terrorist acts. I don't know if you are aware of the changes that are occurring in the medical privacy rules, which are part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. President Bush announced that he would implement the privacy regulations but stated he planned to "modify some rules to make them simpler and less onerous for health care companies and practitioners." The revised rules include a number of proposed changes intended to address public concerns and implementation obstacles. The rule modifications will make it much easier for medical entities to market our personal information and everything that is contained in our medical records. The Health Privacy Project at Georgetown University and Senator Kennedy's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is opposed to the changes and has vowed to hold hearings and offer legislation to restore the consent requirement. The window of opportunity for letter writing ends at 5 p.m. April 26, and I apologize for the short period of time for this letter writing campaign for you Bombers. I offer the following web sites to get more information. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa senator@kennedy.senate.gov I have a personal and professional position in this matter. I fear for my job and for my privacy. Right now, are any of you aware that most all of the large medical practices and hospitals across the country potentially could be sending portions of their physician's dictations and medical reports to be transcribed and coded or processed through more than 58 out-source companies located in India? The physicians and hospitals have found that this is much more affordable than hiring American workers. They can pay the Indian companies approximately 9 cents a line or less than $4.00 per hour. The income for an Indian transcriptionist is approximately $100 per month. Locally, Oregon Health Sciences University, Dept. of Veteran's Affairs, and several doctors within my own practice, Northwest Cancer Specialists division of US Oncology, are engaging in this service. Granted we are assured that the information is encrypted and decrypted so that piracy does not occur, but I am not convinced and am extremely skeptical of the whole situation. I feel that our National security is once again being compromised. Have we not learned anything from September 11? I also feel that the amount of unemployment occurring nationwide and specifically in the state of Oregon is the result of the ripple effect of September 11, so why are we not protecting the rights of American workers and American workers' privacy? While looking at the above links, one web site spoke about an FBI terrorist alert regarding banks nationwide. The terrorism of September 11 tried to destroy not only human life, but demolish our government. They were going for the ruin of us financially. What is to stop the terrorists of the future from destroying us individually through our medical records? The medical information potentially contains date of birth, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and next of kin. I do not believe that our medical society is being very responsible to their patients by allowing these foreign businesses access to our records and our histories. What do you think? The window of opportunity ends on April 26 at 5 p.m. Check out the web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa. There is a letter prepared for you to sign and send. The best way is electronically at this late date. If you would also address your concerns regarding the foreign access to our medical records and privacy matters, I would be most grateful. The jobs of al! l medical records personnel, medical coders, data processors, insurance claims representatives, and medical transcriptionists are on the line. Our doctors have informed us that this is necessary to save money. I believe it is only to further line the physician's pockets. At stake is the freedom of each American. We have had meetings locally regarding the HIPPA regulations and changes. I queried our speaker at one of the meetings about our privacy issues and September 11. Her response was if the Indian companies are in breech of their privacy contract, the contracts will be terminated. That is not a good enough answer for me. What about you folks? Thanking you in advance for your wonderful Bomber help. Linda McKnight (65) - from Milwaukie, Oregon where the sun is trying to shine!!!