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Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act
History
Established by Congress in 1996 the HIPAA Act was enacted to protect medical records and other
protected health information. In other words to provide rules to protect a patient's privacy and confidentiality.
In general HIPAA Act does the following:
1. It sets boundaries on the use and release of health records.
2. It establishes appropriate safeguard that health care providers
and other must achieve to protect th privacy of health information.
3. It holds violators accountable, with civil and criminal penalties
that can be imposed if they violate patients' privacy rights.
4. It strikes a balance when public responsibility requires disclosure
of some forms of data - for example, to protect public health.
5. For patients - it means being able to make informed choices
when seeking care and reimbursement for care based on how
personal health information may be used.
6. It enables patient to find out how their information may be used
and what disclosures of their information have been made.
7. It generally limits release of information to the minimum
reasonably needed for the purpose of the disclosure.
8. It gives patients the right to examine and obtain a copy of their
own health records and request corrections.
Our Goals
1. We strive to comply with HIPAA guidelines by learning to
protect our patients medical policy.
2. We strive to comply with HIPAA guidelines by appropriately
maintaining our patient information and billing processes in
compliance with national standards.
3. We strive to comply with HIPAA guidelines by providing
appropriate security of our patients records.
Definitions
PHI - stands for "Protected Health Information" which is health information in any form (ie - paper,
electronic, or verbal) that identifies a patient.
NPP - stands for "Notice of Privacy Practices" which is a form that describes how medical
information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Each doctor's office will have their own form which you as the patient are asked to sign. You are to be
given a copy of this form to take home.
CO - stands for "Compliance Officer" - our compliance officer is Dr. McMullen. He is your
point of contact should you believe that our office has failed to protect your health information. He is responsible for implementing and monitoring our compliance program.
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