WHAT IS HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (August 21), Public Law 104-191, which amends the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986. Also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act.

Rapid advances in "information technology" have led to growing concern for the privacy and security of personal information. This is especially true in the area of healthcare, where individuals share details of their health, personal lives and finances when they are at their most vulnerable. New regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") address these issues by imposing stringent record-keeping and security requirements on healthcare providers and related entities.

The new regulations require uniform coding for the electronic transmission of patient data. In addition, the regulations require "covered entities" - healthcare providers, health insurance plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and those who contract with these entities - to create and implement privacy policies covering all patient data that is electronically transmitted or maintained (along with all paper counterparts). The work needed to comply with these regulations presents a tremendous challenge for healthcare organizations.

Notice of Privacy

Copyright 2002, Drew Memorial Hospital