The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that

• Provides protections for people who would otherwise lose their health insurance due to changes in employment status
• Mandates the use of standards for the electronic exchange of health care data
• Requires the use of national identification systems for patients, providers, payers, and employers
• Specifies measures to protect the privacy of personally identifiable health care information

As health care professionals, PAs must be aware of the privacy protections guaranteed to patients by this federal law.  Most practices and institutions by now have HIPAA compliance officers in place and training programs for employees, both requirements of the law.

The following links provide additional information about HIPAA and the privacy protections for patients.

Resources

• HIPAA General Information
• Medicaid HIPAA Administrative Simplification
• HIPAA Outreach E-mail Updates
• Guidance on Compliance with the HIPAA National Provider Identifier
• Office for Civil Rights - HIPAA
• HIPAA Enforcement

On-line Training Program

• HIPAAprof - Bringing the Classroom to You