The ONC Policy Committee's Privacy and Security team says there's no need for limitations on providers trying to locate patient record for direct treatment, aside from patient choice. The issue does raise some policy questions, though, and the Committee asked for a reformulation of the team's suggestions.
With automated query and response likely to increase as a part of HIE, the ONC's privacy and security subcommittee is developing policy recommendations for when patient consent is and is not required.
Standards, identity authentication, rules of the road and provider directories should finally come together this year to spur health information exchange.