Curing the unique health identifier: a reconciliation of new technology and privacy rights.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has mandated the assignment of a universal individual health identifier in 2003. Such an identifier can increase patient confidentiality, improve patient care, lower the cost of services to the patient, enhance administrative efficiency, and increase the opportunity for medical research. Nevertheless, national identification systems raise concerns about confidentiality and privacy. Instead of a mandatory, government-assigned number, this article proposes a technologically multi-tiered system that would be administered by a mixed government and private entity. Consumers could voluntarily opt-in to the system.