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Bill

A 6050

Prohibits acquisition or disclosure of personal health information without consent.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ellen Park

New Jersey bill prohibits acquiring or disclosing personal health information without explicit consent, establishing state-level medical privacy protections.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Health Committee
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Bill Summary · A 6050

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 6050 establishes a requirement that personal health information cannot be acquired or disclosed without explicit consent from the individual. The bill was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly and is currently under review by the Health Committee. This represents a privacy protection measure aimed at restricting unauthorized access to sensitive medical data.

Why is this important

Health information is among the most sensitive personal data, with breaches potentially enabling identity theft, insurance discrimination, and privacy violations. Current federal protections under HIPAA have significant gaps, particularly regarding non-covered entities and secondary uses of data. State-level privacy laws like this could close vulnerabilities where health data is sold, shared, or used without patient knowledge.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's definition of "personal health information" and which entities are covered (healthcare providers, insurers, data brokers, employers, apps) remains unclear and could significantly impact implementation
  • Consent mechanisms: Questions about what constitutes valid "consent" (opt-in vs. opt-out), how to handle emergency situations, and whether blanket consents are permitted versus granular consent for each use
  • Business impact: Healthcare industry concerns about operational costs, research limitations, and administrative burden, particularly for small providers and health information exchanges

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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