Protecting Personal Health Data Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (13 Jun 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
What this bill does
**What the bill would do:** S. 1842 aims to strengthen privacy and security protections for personal health data collected by consumer technologies that are not covered by existing federal health privacy law (HIPAA). It would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a "National Task Force on Health Data Protection" to study issues such as de-identification of genetic and biometric data, security standards, cybersecurity risks, and consumer education on genetic testing. The task force would report its findings within one year of enactment. Based on that report, the Secretary would then have six months to issue regulations addressing consent standards, limits on data sharing, consumers' rights to access, delete, or amend their data, and minimum security requirements.
**Who it affects:** The bill targets operators of "consumer devices, services, applications, and software" whose primary purpose involves collecting or using personal health data—examples given include direct-to-consumer genetic testing services, wearable fitness trackers, and health-related social media sites. It would not apply to products marketed to health care providers or insurers already regulated under HIPAA. Consumers who use such products would gain new protections regarding consent, data access, and deletion rights once regulations take effect.
**Status and next steps:** The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 13, 2019, by Sen. Amy Klobuchar with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It did not receive a vote in the 116th Congress and would need to be reintroduced to be considered further.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Protecting Personal Health Data Act
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to regulate consumer devices, services, applications, and software that (1) are primarily designed for or marketed to consumers; (2) primarily collect or use personal health data; and (3) are not primarily designed for use by entities such as health care plans, providers, or clearinghouses.
The bill also establishes a national task force on health data protection.
Timeline
13 Jun 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Common questions
- What does S. 1842 do?
- **What the bill would do:** S. 1842 aims to strengthen privacy and security protections for personal health data collected by consumer technologies that are not covered by existing federal health privacy law (HIPAA). It would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a "National Task Force on Health Data Protection" to study issues such as de-identification of genetic and biometric data, security standards, cybersecurity risks, and consumer education on genetic testing. The task force would report its findings within one year of enactment. Based on that report, the Secretary would then have six months to issue regulations addressing consent standards, limits on data sharing, consumers' rights to access, delete, or amend their data, and minimum security requirements. **Who it affects:** The bill targets operators of "consumer devices, services, applications, and software" whose primary purpose involves collecting or using personal health data—examples given include direct-to-consumer genetic testing services, wearable fitness trackers, and health-related social media sites. It would not apply to products marketed to health care providers or insurers already regulated under HIPAA. Consumers who use such products would gain new protections regarding consent, data access, and deletion rights once regulations take effect. **Status and next steps:** The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 13, 2019, by Sen. Amy Klobuchar with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It did not receive a vote in the 116th Congress and would need to be reintroduced to be considered further.
- Has S. 1842 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1842. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1842?
- S. 1842 was sponsored by Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 1842?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (13 Jun 2019).
Related bills in Health
Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
Access to Medical Supplies Act
Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act
More bills from Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Visitable Inclusive Tax credits for Accessible Living (VITAL) Act
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 1st Avenue Southeast in Austin, Minnesota, as the "John Madden Memorial Post Office".
Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act of 2026
SEARCH Act of 2026
Bill100 mirrors the public U.S. legislative record from Congress.gov and GovTrack and adds plain-English AI summaries. It is an information tool, not legal, compliance or lobbying advice, and it is not affiliated with the U.S. Congress or any government agency. AI summaries can simplify or omit detail — every bill links to the official source; verify there before you rely on it.