WebMD Health (WBMD)

 

Privacy of personal health information, particularly personal health information stored or transmitted electronically, is a major issue in the United States. The Privacy Standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (or HIPAA) establish a set of basic national privacy standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers (referred to as covered entities) and their business associates. Only covered entities are directly subject to potential civil and criminal liability under the Privacy Standards. Accordingly, the Privacy Standards do not apply directly to us. However, portions of our business, such as those managing employee or plan member health information for employers or health plans, are or may be business associates of covered entities and are bound by certain contracts and agreements to use and disclose protected health information in a manner consistent with the Privacy Standards. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could potentially be subject to criminal liability for aiding and abetting or conspiring with a covered entity to violate the Privacy Standards. We cannot assure you that we will adequately address the risks created by the Privacy Standards. In addition, we are unable to predict what changes to the Privacy Standards might be made in the future or how those changes could affect our business. Any new legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal information, including personal health information, could also affect the way we operate our business and could harm our business.

 

In addition, Internet user privacy and the use of consumer information to track online activities are major issues both in the United States and abroad. For example, in December 2007, the FTC published for comment proposed principles to govern tracking of consumers’ activities online in order to deliver advertising targeted to the interests of individual consumers. We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices. However, whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain. We also notify users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices relating to data we receive through offline means such as paper health risk assessments. We cannot assure you that the privacy policies and other statements we provide to users of our products and services, or our practices will be found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse publicity in this area. A determination by a state or federal agency or court that any of our practices do not meet applicable standards, or the implementation of new standards or requirements, could adversely affect our business.

 

 

Privacy of personal health information, particularly personal health information stored or transmitted electronically, is a major issue in the United States. The Privacy Standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (or HIPAA) establish a set of basic national privacy standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers (referred to as covered entities) and their business associates. Only covered entities are directly subject to potential civil and criminal liability under the Privacy Standards. Accordingly, the Privacy Standards do not apply directly to us. However, portions of our business, such as those managing employee or plan member health information for employers or health plans, are or may be business associates of covered entities and are bound by certain contracts and agreements to use and disclose protected health information in a manner consistent with the Privacy Standards. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could potentially be subject to criminal liability for aiding and abetting or conspiring with a covered entity to violate the Privacy Standards. We cannot assure you that we will adequately address the risks created by the Privacy Standards. In addition, we are unable to predict what changes to the Privacy Standards might be made in the future or how those changes could affect our business. Any new legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal information, including personal health information, could also affect the way we operate our business and could harm our business.

 

In addition, Internet user privacy and the use of consumer information to track online activities are major issues both in the United States and abroad. For example, in December 2007, the FTC published for comment proposed principles to govern tracking of consumers’ activities online in order to deliver advertising targeted to the interests of individual consumers. We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices. However, whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain. We also notify users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices relating to data we receive through offline means such as paper health risk assessments. We cannot assure you that the privacy policies and other statements we provide to users of our products and services, or our practices will be found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse publicity in this area. A determination by a state or federal agency or court that any of our practices do not meet applicable standards, or the implementation of new standards or requirements, could adversely affect our business.

 

 

Privacy of personal health information, particularly personal health information stored or transmitted electronically, is a major issue in the United States. The Privacy Standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (or HIPAA) establish a set of basic national privacy standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers (referred to as covered entities) and their business associates. Only covered entities are directly subject to potential civil and criminal liability under the Privacy Standards. Accordingly, the Privacy Standards do not apply directly to us. However, portions of our business, such as those managing employee or plan member health information for employers or health plans, are or may be business associates of covered entities and are bound by certain contracts and agreements to use and disclose protected health information in a manner consistent with the Privacy Standards. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could potentially be subject to criminal liability for aiding and abetting or conspiring with a covered entity to violate the Privacy Standards. We cannot assure you that we will adequately address the risks created by the Privacy Standards. In addition, we are unable to predict what changes to the Privacy Standards might be made in the future or how those changes could affect our business. Any new legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal information, including personal health information, could also affect the way we operate our business and could harm our business.

 

In addition, Internet user privacy and the use of consumer information to track online activities are major issues both in the United States and abroad. For example, in December 2007, the FTC published for comment proposed principles to govern tracking of consumers’ activities online in order to deliver advertising targeted to the interests of individual consumers. We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices. However, whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain. We also notify users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices relating to data we receive through offline means such as paper health risk assessments. We cannot assure you that the privacy policies and other statements we provide to users of our products and services, or our practices will be found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse publicity in this area. A determination by a state or federal agency or court that any of our practices do not meet applicable standards, or the implementation of new standards or requirements, could adversely affect our business.

 

 

Privacy of personal health information, particularly personal health information stored or transmitted electronically, is a major issue in the United States. The Privacy Standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (or HIPAA) establish a set of basic national privacy standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers (referred to as covered entities) and their business associates. Only covered entities are directly subject to potential civil and criminal liability under the Privacy Standards. Accordingly, the Privacy Standards do not apply directly to us. However, portions of our business, such as those managing employee or plan member health information for employers or health plans, are or may be business associates of covered entities and are bound by certain contracts and agreements to use and disclose protected health information in a manner consistent with the Privacy Standards. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could potentially be subject to criminal liability for aiding and abetting or conspiring with a covered entity to violate the Privacy Standards. We cannot assure you that we will adequately address the risks created by the Privacy Standards. In addition, we are unable to predict what changes to the Privacy Standards might be made in the future or how those changes could affect our business. Any new legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal information, including personal health information, could also affect the way we operate our business and could harm our business.

 

In addition, Internet user privacy and the use of consumer information to track online activities are major issues both in the United States and abroad. For example, in December 2007, the FTC published for comment proposed principles to govern tracking of consumers’ activities online in order to deliver advertising targeted to the interests of individual consumers. We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices. However, whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain. We also notify users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices relating to data we receive through offline means such as paper health risk assessments. We cannot assure you that the privacy policies and other statements we provide to users of our products and services, or our practices will be found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse publicity in this area. A determination by a state or federal agency or court that any of our practices do not meet applicable standards, or the implementation of new standards or requirements, could adversely affect our business.

 

 

Privacy of personal health information, particularly personal
health information stored or transmitted electronically, is a
major issue in the United States. The Privacy Standards under
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(or HIPAA) establish a set of basic national privacy standards
for the protection of individually identifiable health
information by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and
healthcare providers (referred to as covered entities) and their
business associates. Only covered entities are directly subject
to potential civil and criminal liability under the Privacy
Standards. Accordingly, the Privacy Standards do not apply
directly to us. However, portions of our business, such as those
managing employee or plan member health information for
employers or health plans, are or may be business associates of
covered entities and are bound by certain contracts and
agreements to use and disclose protected health information in a
manner consistent with the Privacy Standards. Depending on the
facts and circumstances, we could potentially be subject to
criminal liability for aiding and abetting or conspiring with a
covered entity to violate the Privacy Standards. We cannot
assure you that we will adequately address the risks created by
the Privacy Standards. In addition, we are unable to predict
what changes to the Privacy Standards might be made in the
future or how those changes could affect our business. Any new
legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal
information, including personal health information, could also
affect the way we operate our business and could harm our
business.

 

In addition, Internet user privacy and the use of consumer
information to track online activities are major issues both in
the United States and abroad. For example, in December 2007, the
FTC published for comment proposed principles to govern tracking
of consumers’ activities online in order to deliver
advertising targeted to the interests of individual consumers.
We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe
comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our
information collection, use and disclosure practices. However,
whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in
various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain.
We also notify users about our information collection, use and
disclosure practices relating to data we receive through offline
means such as paper health risk assessments. We cannot assure
you that the privacy policies and other statements we provide to
users of our products and services, or our practices will be
found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse
publicity in this area. A determination by a state or federal
agency or court that any of our practices do not meet applicable
standards, or the implementation of new standards or
requirements, could adversely affect our business.

 

 

Internet user privacy has become a major issue both in the United States and abroad. We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices. However, whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain and may take years to resolve. In addition, we notify users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices relating to data we receive through offline means such as paper health risk assessments. Any legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal information, including personal health information, could affect the way we operate our business and could harm our business. Further, we cannot assure you that the privacy policies and other statements we provide to users of our products and services, or our practices will be found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse publicity in this area.

 

Internet user privacy has become a major issue both in the United States and abroad. We have privacy policies posted on our Web sites that we believe comply with applicable laws requiring notice to users about our information collection, use and disclosure practices. However, whether and how existing privacy and consumer protection laws in various jurisdictions apply to the Internet is still uncertain and may take years to resolve. Any legislation or regulation in the area of privacy of personal information could affect the way we operate our Web sites and could harm our business. Further, we cannot assure you that the privacy policies and other statements on our Web sites or our practices will be found sufficient to protect us from liability or adverse publicity in this area.