About Us
HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountablity Act
HIPAA
is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
This act includes the HIPAA Privacy Rule created to establish national
standards to protect individuals' medical records and other protected
health information (PHI).
Those
required to comply with these new privacy standards set by Congress
include health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers,
such as Baptist Health, who conduct certain financial and administrative
transactions electronically. These entities (collectively called
"covered entities") are bound by the new privacy standards
even if they contract with others (called "business associates")
to perform some of their essential functions.
These
new regulations require the average provider like Baptist Health
to:
- Provide information to patients about their privacy
rights and how their information can be used.
- Adopt clear privacy procedures for its practice
or hospital.
- Train employees so that they understand the privacy
policies and procedures.
- Designate a Privacy Officer to be responsible
for seeing that the privacy policies and procedures are adopted
and followed.
- Secure patient records containing PHI so that
the records are not readily available to those who do not need
them.
Most
covered entities have until April 14, 2003, to come into compliance
with these standards. The Office of Civil Rights will enforce these
new rules.
HIPAA
PRIVACY STANDARDS AND THE PATIENT
In
regards to PHI maintained by Baptist Health, patients have the right
to:
·
Request to inspect and copy their medical record
· Request to amend their medical record
· Request limitations on information disclosed
· Choose the means of confidential communication
· Receive copies of the Notice of Privacy Practices
· Request an accounting of "non-routine" disclosures
of PHI
The
Privacy Rule also allows family members the right to see other family
member's record if they have been designated as the patient's personal
representative or if the patient gives authorization.
For
additional information or questions, please contact Kathy Roberts,
Privacy Officer, at 501-202-1323.