[Dave S]

Once the records are beyond the physician-patient relationship, there is no privacy!

Well Bimbo, then welcome to the Brave New World of 1984 because your records have already traveled far beyond your physician. You have no privacy unless you pay cash.

[Iwo Jima]

You are incorrect that the current state of the law allows insurance companies or health care providers to share confidential patient information with marketing companies, etc. As always, doctors can share necessary information with other providers who are involved in the patient's care. Insurance companies can share NOTHING with ANYONE, absent a court order.

If someone is improperly disclosing patient information, they can and should be sued. They will lose BIG TIME and could also lose any license which they hold. So, this is simply not a problem that has any need to be addressed. It's just not happening, at least not to any extent that it has ever come to my attention (and I am very well informed on this subject.)

Since we have no problem, and since it is none of the federal government's business in the first place, Clinton's bogus rules should be reversed and never go into effect. That will leave us with the status quo, which is working just fine and has been for decades.

More insulting comments from you will not change this reality.