What Does HIPAA Stand For?

Passed in 1996, HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, helps workers to retain health insurance when they change or lose their jobs and protects the privacy of personally identifiable health information.

HIPAA protects health care consumers.

Features

HIPAA is enforced and maintained by the Office for Civil Rights. The office has maintained HIPAA provisions since April 14, 2003. It investigates complaints filed against entities that violate HIPAA.

Function

Information protected under HIPAA includes any information a health care provider puts in your medical record, conversations you have with health care providers about your care, and information regarding your insurance and/or billing history.

Considerations

To protect personal health records, all health care entities must use administrative and physical safeguards to protect information. Employees or contractors that view an individual's health information must be trained in HIPAA procedure.

Warning

Many health care providers and insurance plans routinely require a consumer to waive certain rights protected under HIPAA as a condition of service. It's essential to understand what rights you release when you sign a HIPAA waiver.

Family Ties

HIPAA doesn't preclude friends and family from getting information on the health status of a loved one. A doctor might provide updates as long as the information is considered "directly relevant" to the care of a patient or consumer.

References

• Understanding HIPAA Privacy
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act