The Government
Performance and Results Act (P.L. 103-62) requires federal agencies
to establish clear goals based on their statutory authority. They must also
report annually on their progress in meeting those goals.
With the HIPAA privacy regulations in place and enforcement delegated to HHS' Office
for Civil Rights, improvements in privacy protection should now become a major part
of the Results Act documents produced by these agencies.
This is not an easy
intellectual exercise because "privacy" reflects the values of individuals, which
governments are in a difficult position to protect. Nonetheless, if taxpayer dollars
are to be consumed and business practices altered in the name of privacy, the results
of that spending and regulating should be measured.
Links:
Strategic Plan Web site,
Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services
Comments? comments@privacilla.org
(Subject: HIPAAResults)
[updated 01/02/01]
