[JourneyOfLife]

Information most of us thought was to be held in confidence is apparently for sale!

Another case of Technological Change and old Laws that need to be updated. I wonder when Congress will address Privacy?

The data sellers claim HIIPA doesn't apply to them... apparently there is a loophole! At least they are claiming they can do it.... and they are doing it!

Bloomberg:

Ever since the days of castor oil laxatives and mercury syphilis tablets, pharmacists and patients have had a tacit understanding: whatever you buy, the information is confidential.

No longer. Drugmakers and Internet companies are quietly joining forces to link U.S. pharmacy records with online accounts to target ads to people based on their health conditions and the prescription drugs they buy.

In a little-known process, third-party companies assign patients unique numerical codes based on their prescription-drug records, a practice websites also rely on to track their registered users. The two sets of data can be linked without names ever changing hands, allowing pharmaceutical companies to identify groups that use a specific medicine and send them tailored Web ads.

The practice has become an essential part of the $1 trillion pharmaceutical industry’s digital marketing efforts. The industry says the technique complies with federal medical privacy laws because patients’ names are concealed. Still, critics see it as a breach of confidentiality.

Bloomberg:

The technique’s growing use is raising alarms that technological advances are undoing protections provided by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the federal medical privacy law, according to Bloomberg interviews with more than 60 industry executives, regulators and privacy advocates. Websites and data firms exist in a legal blind spot because HIPAA applies to doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, insurance companies and their contractors.

They Know You Buy Viagra and They Want to Sell You More - Bloomberg

[rubicon]

Let's face it there is nowhere to hide in this world today

[KayakerNC]

Wow!
Ads on the internet? Who knew?

[JourneyOfLife]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Wow!
Ads on the internet? Who knew?

It looks like you are muddling together different issues.

You're comment is about a mechanism (i.e., a browser) used to deliver an advertisement over the internet. I suspect targeted advertising will be delivered through every medium. But the mode of deliver is not the real issue!

This article is about patient medical data being sold by drug benefit managers to data broker that will in turn resell access of it to others.

It is about HIPPA. In a nutshell, most people are concerned about being discriminated against due to health problem or illness. But some people just want their medical information to be private for a variety of personal reasons.

[Rags123]

Originally Posted by JourneyOfLife

It looks like you are muddling together different issues.

You're comment is about a mechanism (i.e., a browser) used to deliver an advertisement over the internet. I suspect targeted advertising will be delivered through every medium. But the mode of deliver is not the real issue!

This article is about patient medical data being sold by drug benefit managers to data broker that will in turn resell access of it to others.

It is about HIPPA. In a nutshell, most people are concerned about being discriminated against due to health problem or illness. But some people just want their medical information to be private for a variety of personal reasons.

One of the most disturbing issues in your link in this day of "the government will take care of you " is this....

"Federal regulators said they were not aware of the practice until contacted by Bloomberg News."

[JourneyOfLife]

Originally Posted by Rags123

One of the most disturbing issues in your link in this day of "the government will take care of you " is this....

"Federal regulators said they were not aware of the practice until contacted by Bloomberg News."

I do agree, the situation is disconcerting. Every medical provider knows the HIPPA regs. Those big companies know the regulators. Its not like those companies did not have plenty of opportunity to contact the regulator for guidance!

It appears that the Data Broker and drug benefit managers may have consulted with a specialty law firm to get a legal opinion! Since the article stated they claim to be using a HIPPA loophole! That statement right there has a suspicious ring to it!

Hopefully there is an investigation... Let the Chips Fall where they Land!

I think this type of thing... companies selling their customers data will continue at a fast pace until the congress updates the statutes.

Congress really needs to make data privacy, as well as cyber security legislation a priority. Data breaches seem to happening all too often.

[BobnBev]

I don't care if the whole world knows that I take Viagra--------------------

You should see the size of my......ummmmm......new car!!

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by JourneyOfLife

It looks like you are muddling together different issues.

You're comment is about a mechanism (i.e., a browser) used to deliver an advertisement over the internet. I suspect targeted advertising will be delivered through every medium. But the mode of deliver is not the real issue!

This article is about patient medical data being sold by drug benefit managers to data broker that will in turn resell access of it to others.

It is about HIPPA. In a nutshell, most people are concerned about being discriminated against due to health problem or illness. But some people just want their medical information to be private for a variety of personal reasons.

I've read the article.
What exactly do you think "digital marketing" is?

[Loudoll]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Wow!
Ads on the internet? Who knew?