Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is meant to ensure that people's private health information is protected. HIPAA is overseen by the United States Office of Civil Rights. Disclosure requirements do allow patients to waive rights and share information with caregivers and families, but the act also sets down several privacy rules to protect that same information if it does not interfere with public health. Doctors may also release information to specialists treating the patient and insurance companies for billing purposes.
HIPAA Readiness Disclosure Statement
Brain Injury Alliance of Utah has been diligently following the evolution of the Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) since its inception in 1996. Our goal is to ensure our systems, supporting business processes, policies, and procedures successfully meet the implementation standards and deadlines mandated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
HIPAA Applicability
The HIPAA Administrative Simplification rules and regulations apply to covered entities defined to include health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers who transmit any health information in any electronic form in connection with transactions covered under the rules, and who receive, maintain, or disclose individually identifiable health information in any form or medium. All covered entities must comply with the standards adopted by HIPAA by the applicable compliance dates. If a provider chooses to conduct a standard electronic transaction with a health plan, the health plan may not refuse to conduct nor can it delay such transactions. The modes of electronic transmission covered under HIPAA include the Internet, extranets, leased lines, dial-up lines, private networks, and those transmissions that are physically moved from one location to another using magnetic tape, disk, or compact disk media. Covered entities that do not comply with the HIPAA Administrative Simplification rules by the applicable dates will be subject to penalties, which are defined under the Enforcement Regulations. The Department of Health and Human Services published an interim final enforcement rule applicable to all HIPAA Administrative Simplification rules in the Federal Register on April 17, 2003.
Brain Injury Alliance of Utah’s Case Management Site
The Case Management site is designed to provide information, resources and links along with a list-serve/chat room to help case managers communicate online or share information and resources. Individuals using this site must comply with rules and regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Information shared must be in compliance with HIPPA. Please do not share any medical information or names in your transactions through the list-serve/chat room. If you do not comply with these rules your access to this site will be revoked.
