Important Notice to Supporters:

IHF Is Planning to Dissolve and Transfer Its Programs to Citizens' Council on Health Care

Read about IHF's forthcoming changes announced on August 23.

Virginia Overcomes First Hurdle in Health Insurance Mandate Challenge

(August 2010)—Virginia overcame the first hurdle in its constitutional challenge to the federal health-insurance mandate August 2, when the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia denied the U.S. government’s motion to dismiss the state attorney general’s lawsuit. The suit claims the mandate conflicts with the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act, which protects state residents from any legal requirement that they buy health insurance.”...(continue reading)

CMS Chief Asks “Will We Ration With Our Eyes Open?”

(August 2010)—Should the political appointee who will oversee the nation’s largest pot of taxpayer health-care dollars be subjected to public scrutiny and congressional approval? On July 7 President Obama made a controversial “recess” appointment of pediatrician Donald Berwick to head the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The appointment bypassed the usual Senate confirmation process, therefore precluding public discussion....(continue reading)

What Every American Should Know about the Federal HIPAA Medical Privacy Rule

Did you know that under the federal HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) privacy rule, your personal health information—including electronic health records (EHRs) and genetic information—can be disclosed without your consent to many third parties such as the following:

• Public health workers
• Data-processing companies
• Researchers (in some instances)
• Law enforcement officials
• Federal government
• Doctors (even those not treating you)

Under the HIPAA rule all of the above are legally permitted to access your personal health and genetic information without your permission.... (continue reading)

Sign Up to Receive Our Free Email Alerts!

The Institute for Health Freedom publishes Health Freedom Watch, our monthly e-mail newsletter, to alert the public to issues affecting their health freedom and privacy rights. Sign up here to receive IHF's free monthly email newsletter.