Washington’s My Health, My Data Act, which prevents health-tracking apps, search engines and advertisers from collecting and sharing health data without the user’s consent, has been approved by the Washington State House of Representatives in a 57-39 vote.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, is designed to protect reproductive healthcare and abortion rights, according to Healthcare IT News.
“It is inexcusable that private, protected health care patient and provider data would be shared for purposes outside of needed care. We’re not going to allow it in Washington,” said Governor Jay Inslee in the bill’s announcement last October.
While the bill includes an exception for public or peer-reviewed research and exemptions for processing covered by existing health privacy laws, according to the story, it was largely designed to address gaps in data privacy protections in the wake of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. Read more.
