Meghan Mead is a legal expert specializing in public health law, including data sharing, data governance, and privacy. As Deputy Director at the Network for Public Health Law, she provides legal technical assistance and training to a variety of public health practitioners at the state and local level, including on topics such as HIPAA, Part 2, state privacy laws, AI, and understanding the complexities at play when navigating complex legal frameworks and intergovernmental and cross-jurisdictional data-sharing agreements.

Prior to her work at the Network, Meghan served as the Director of Law and Policy at New Mexico Appleseed, where she identified and successfully advocated for effective solutions to child and family poverty at the local, state, and federal level. She also spent almost a decade in private law practice providing regulatory and transactional legal advice to health care providers, including hospitals and medical groups. She is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Mount Holyoke College.

Articles & Resources

Artificial Intelligence and Public Health: Emerging Uses, Risks, and Ethical Considerations

Law & Policy InsightsHealth Information and Data SharingHealth Data Sharing and PrivacyMechanisms for Advancing Health Equity

October 15, 2024
by Meghan Mead

There are opportunities for public health agencies to improve health outcomes and alleviate workforce burden through AI. However, public health agencies also need to be aware of the challenges and ethical complexities around AI, and thoughtfully evaluate its use and ensure appropriate protections are in place.

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An Overview on Conducting a HIPAA Hybrid Entity Assessment for Local Public Health Departments

Issue BriefHealth Data Sharing and PrivacyFederal Privacy Laws

April 1, 2024
by Meghan Mead

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191 (HIPAA) applies to many local public health departments (LHDs). This issue brief helps public health practitioners, and their attorneys understand how HIPAA applies to LPHDs, the steps an LPHD must take to become a HIPAA hybrid entity, and discusses how these decisions directly impact data sharing, operations, compliance burden, and risk.

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