Your Health Information
Is Protected By Federal Law
 Most of us believe that our medical and other
health information is private and should be protected, and we want to
know who has this information. The Privacy Rule, a Federal law, gives
you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who
can look at and receive your health information. The Privacy Rule
applies to all forms of individuals' protected health information,
whether electronic, written, or oral. The Security Rule, a Federal law
that protects health information in electronic form, requires entities
covered by HIPAA to ensure that electronic protected health information
is secure. www.hhs.gov
The Administrative
Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA, Title II) required the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish national standards for
electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for
providers, health plans, and employers. As the industry has implemented
these standards, and increased the use of electronic data interchange,
the nation's health care system will become increasingly effective and
efficient.
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