HIPAA Description

HIPAA, also known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, sets standards for the security of information related to your health and health care. HIPAA ensures that your health information stays private and that only those authorized can view it.

Applications

• HIPAA covers your health care information and applies to your insurance company, whether it is private or public, such as Medicare. The act also applies to your doctor's office, if it uses anything electronic to do business, such as billing. Any "middle man," also known as a "clearinghouse," is also covered. This means that any company that processes health care information must keep it private.

Protected Information

• Any information that is part of your medical record, any medical bills, and even any spoken conversation between you and your doctor or nurse are covered under HIPAA. In addition, information that appears on any of your medical bills is also to be kept secure and private.

Consumer Rights

• Under HIPAA, your doctor must get your permission to share any of your health care information and must give you an explanation as to why your information may have been shared. You can also request copies of your medical record and request corrections to that record.

Release of Information

• Your health information can be shared with other medical staff in order to treat you, as well as with your caregivers, such as family members, unless you specifically deny this permission. Information can also be given to medical authorities when it might indicate a threat to public welfare, such as the recent outbreaks of H1N1 flu.

Violations

• If you feel that your rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with your insurance company or the medical office. Or, you can file a complaint with the office of Health and Human Services.