Assessment of use and misuse of de-identified health data

(a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (1) enter into an agreement with the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology to conduct a study, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, on the impact of digital health technology on medically underserved areas (as defined in section 8302(c)); and (2) submit a report to Congress describing the results of such study, including any recommendations for legislative or administrative action. (b) Study The study described in subsection (a)(1) shall— (1) examine the overall prevalence, and historical and existing practices and their respective prevalence, of use and misuse of de-identified protected health information to discriminate against or benefit medically underserved areas; (2) identify best practices and tools to leverage the benefits and prevent misuse of de-identified protected health information to discriminate against medically underserved areas; (3) examine the overall prevalence, and historical and existing practices and their respective prevalence, of use and misuse of de-identified personal health information other than protected health information to discriminate against or benefit medically underserved areas; and (4) identify best practices and tools to leverage the benefits and prevent misuse of de-identified personal health information other than protected health information to discriminate against medically underserved areas. (c) Definition of protected health information In this section, the term protected health information has the meaning given such term in section 160.103 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).