In a new report for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, Manatt Health provides a review of the primary Massachusetts and federal privacy laws relevant to the exchange of information among physical and behavioral health providers. The report also features an assessment of the technological and operational challenges that providers face when seeking to integrate care through enhanced data exchange.

In addition, the report proposes ways in which existing laws could be clarified or amended to improve the facilitation of information exchange. Finally, it identifies potential operational strategies for minimizing the restrictive impact of existing privacy laws without compromising patient privacy.