Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a Federal law that was enacted in 1996. The primary intent of HIPAA is to provide better access to health insurance, limit fraud and abuse, and reduce administrative costs. The State is concerned with the portion of the Act that pertains to administrative simplification. The Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA, Title II) require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health plans, and employers. It also addresses the security and privacy of health data. Adopting these standards will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation’s health care system by encouraging the widespread use of standardized electronic data interchange in health care.

Department of Elder Affairs’ HIPAA Privacy Policies and Procedures

1. Client’s Privacy Rights Policy
2. Notice of Privacy Practices
3. Business Associates
4. Responsibilities of Covered Entities
5. Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
6. Disclosure Tracking Policy
7. Minimum Necessary Requirements
8. Individual Rights to Protected Health Information
9. Administrative Requirements Standards
10. DOEA General Information Systems Access Policy
11. Changes to Policies & Procedures
12. Complaints

HIPAA Related Forms (PDF files)

• Employment Statement of Understanding of Privacy Policies
• Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information
• Request for Restriction on Use & Disclosure of Medical Information and/or Confidential Communication
• Access to Records Request for Inspection of Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Amendment/Correction of Health Record Request Form
• Request for Accounting of Disclosures of Protected Health Information
• Revocation of Consent or Authorization to Release Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Complaint Form
• Client Disclosure Log
• HIPAA Fax Cover Sheet
• Notice of Privacy Practices