The Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy, or HJHLP, is committed to providing a scholarly forum for the interdisciplinary exploration of the full range of issues in health law and policy.

  We are dedicated to publishing the nation's preeminent peer-reviewed journal devoted exclusively to health law and policy issues.

  The Journal publishes two issues of professional and student-authored pieces each year. The symposium issue focuses on an emerging and important issue in health care law and policy. The Journal's fall issue includes professional articles on a variety of topics, as well as student articles.

  The Journal is one of the few legal journals that uses a peer-review process. After a submission is accepted for publication, peer review comments may be sent to the author to help improve the quality of the final article. All articles are reviewed and recommended for publication by experts in the field during an anonymous peer review process. This rigorous review ensures that the Journal achieves our goal of superior quality.

  In addition, prospective authors will find that the student editors of the Journal are professional, knowledgeable, and sensitive to the need for timely publication. Many of the student editors are also health care professionals, holding degrees of M.D., M.P.H., R.N., and licensed professional counselors.

Regulation of Online Pharmacies using RFID, 2D barcodes and biometrics
By Sofia Bruera

This article concerns the problems involving national and international online pharmacies distributing counterfeit drugs and infiltrating the American drug supply. These problems can be resolved by the use of new technology such as radio frequency identification tags, 2D barcodes and biometrics to ensure the reliability of drug shipments entering the United States.

Just say NO? Redefining the Foundation of Abstinence Education in the United States
By Farnaz Faiaz

Increasingly, states have refused to accept federal funds designated for abstinence-only sex education, and have developed more comprehensive approaches to sex education. This paper explores these developments and suggests a redefinition to the foundation upon which federal abstinence-only funding rests. A new approach to federal financing, built on current notions of comprehensive and collaborative sex education, and combined with outcome based incentives is offered.

Missing the Mark: The Public Health Exception to the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Its Impact on Surveillance Activity
By Andrea D. Wilson

This article serves as an exploration of the negative implications of the public health exception to the Privacy Rule contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 as it is currently drafted, focusing on the challenges posed to public health officials in their roles as monitors of the community's well-being. The article further seeks to identify potential solutions that will improve both personal health information privacy and public health practice, striking a balance between the needs of individuals and public health officials.

06 19 08	New Website
The HJHL&P is pleased to announce the successful launch of our newly re-designed website incorporating a uniquely tailored content management system.

05 14 08	Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2008.