SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing the importance of reproductive health data privacy for Illinois residents, State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced a measure to directly combat continued attacks on bodily autonomy and keep reproductive data out of the wrong hands.
“The surest way Illinois can protect our residents and their reproductive records is by requiring health information exchanges to implement new policies that keep sensitive information out of bad actors’ hands,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Time and time again, since 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned, we have heard the stories of women across the United States living in fear after seeking abortion-related health care. We have a duty to ensure Illinoisans aren’t being persecuted just because their health records ended up in the wrong hands.”
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.
“This measure is about ensuring women across the state have autonomy not only over their bodies but also over where their sensitive medical information is released,” added Villanueva. “By advancing this measure, Illinois is sending a clear message that we stand with women, and we will not stop fighting for the rights and privacy of our residents.”
House Bill 5295 passed the Senate Saturday and heads to the House for concurrence.
