get hip to hipaa

We’re flooded with acronyms these days. New ones pop up every day, and it can get very confusing. And when it comes to health care and medicine there are more acronyms than you could probably ever hope to count.

But there’s an important new acronym out there, and it may be helpful for you to know a little about it. It’s called HIPAA, an acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Its primary purpose is to protect everyone’s medical records and other health care information. It was a law passed almost 10 years ago in 1996, but the Department of Health and Human Services and lawmakers gave healthcare institutions and professionals until 2003 to comply with its requirements. These include doctors, dentists, pharmacies, hospitals, medical centers, clinics, and health insurance carriers.

Here are the highlights of how HIPAA protects your privacy:

Access to Medical Records

You can now see and have copies of your medical records. If you find an error, you have the right to request corrections. Access to records must be given within 30 days of the request. The law does allow your doctor or other medical entity to charge you a small fee for copies of your documents, however.

Notice of Privacy Practices

Healthcare institutions and professionals, including hospitals, HMOs, insurers, doctors, dentists, nurses, and other medical professionals, are required to give you a written notice how your medical information will be used. You may have to sign a copy of the information, if you have not already done so. You will also have an opportunity to note if any others, such as your spouse, can be given information about your medical records. This even includes your appointments!

Limits on Use of Personal Information

HIPAA provides a limit to what health care information about you can be provided to third parties without your knowledge or permission, including banks, marketing firms, and life and health insurance companies. It does not, however, limit your doctor or other medical professionals from access to necessary information about you.

Prohibits Marketing

The law has restrictions and limitations on how your information can be used for marketing purposes. In order for a medical professional to use any of your medical information in this manner, they must have your permission.

Enhances State Laws

HIPAA is meant to provide a federal standard for all states regarding your right to medical information privacy. It also strengthens existing state laws in this manner. But it does not restrict any existing state laws that concern public safety. An example of this might be the need to share information regarding the spread of an infectious disease epidemic like Avian Flu.

Confidential Communications

As already noted, HIPAA safeguards your right to privacy by ensuring that all communications about your medical records are confidential. Unless you provide permission, healthcare professionals cannot discuss or divulge any information about you. This even extends to routine matters like doctor’s appointment notifications or confirmations. Basically HIPAA says that you are in charge of your own information, how it is used, and who sees it.

For more information on HIPAA you can call the HIPAA Hotline at (866) 627-7748 or visit the government’s special website at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.