Powers Senior Counsel Jim Pyles co-authored a chapter in the recently published Textbook of Applied Psychoanalysis. The chapter, which Mr. Pyles wrote with his brother, Robert L. Pyles, M.D., discusses an ethical approach to health reform and asserts that health reform legislation must give priority to the individual’s interest in personal autonomy and privacy.
The chapter discusses various changes in healthcare laws over the years, including the Affordable Care Act and the HIPAA/HITECH laws, and how they are perceived by the public. Mr. Pyles notes that, while much of the public approve of several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that guaranteed certain insurance coverage, many disapprove of the individual mandate requiring individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. He goes on to point out that many data breaches have occurred after HIPAA, resulting in increased costs and a loss of public trust.
The chapter also proposes a number of steps that Congress should take in developing health reform that the public will accept and support on a long-term basis, including establishing objectives that put the interests of the individual first, protecting the individual’s autonomy and privacy, and adopting measures that are consistent with Constitutional law and professional medical ethics.
The textbook is available on Amazon here.
Jim Pyles is a co-founder of Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville and has more than 40 years of experience in litigation, counseling, and lobbying in the field of health law and policy. He is nationally known for his expertise with legal issues related to health information technology and health information privacy, chronic care coordination, home health, hospice, and ambulatory care services.