The HIPAA Privacy Rule
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information and applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically. The Rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of personal health information, and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without patient authorization. The Rule also gives patients rights over their health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, and to request corrections.
A summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule (prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights) can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html (link is external)
A summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule (prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights) can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html (link is external)