SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing the importance of reproductive health data privacy for Illinois residents, State Senator Celina Villanueva is leading a measure to directly combat continued attacks on bodily autonomy and keep reproductive data out of the wrong hands.
“Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, women across the United States have faced increased weaponization and surveillance of their reproductive health data, trapping many in a state of constant fear after seeking pregnancy- or abortion-related care,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “By requiring health information exchanges to implement new policies that protect reproductive health data, Illinois is ensuring patients never have to worry about being criminalized or targeted for seeking critical care.”
A health information exchange is used to electronically transfer patient medical data, for the use of maintaining medical records or to share among providers, to improve diagnostic efficiency and the overall quality of patient care. To keep abortion records safe, Villanueva’s measure, the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, would require health information exchanges to:
- Limit user access to systems containing abortion-related medical information
- Refrain from sharing data across state lines, unless the reason for the disclosure is for technical support, quality assurance or billing purposes, or the patient consents to sharing their data
- Technically segregate information related to abortion services from the rest of a patient’s record
- Disable access to segregated information for out-of-state entities.
Under the bill, patients would be able to opt out of data segregation and direct private health care information to be shared with a specific covered entity outside Illinois through an electronic health network. In the case a patient’s right to privacy has been violated, the measure would empower patients to seek civil action, whether for injunctive relief, actual damages or associated legal costs.
“As states across the nation continue to bulldoze reproductive rights, Illinois is standing with women and patients to protect sensitive medical information because we know autonomy is a fundamental right,” added Villanueva.
House Bill 5295 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
