Clear Image
DHHS logo Dept. of Health & Human Services
 
Link to AoA Homepage   U.S. Administration on Aging
About AoA
Press Room
Elders & Families
Professionals
Grant Programs
Clear Image
Clear Image
Professionals
Home > Professionals > Civil Rights > HIPAA
Clear Image
BulletAddressing Diversity
Clear Image
BulletAging & Disability Resource Center
Clear Image
BulletAging Network
Clear Image
BulletAoA Programs
Clear Image
BulletCivil Rights
Clear Image
Bullet
Square BulletHIPAA
Clear Image
Bullet
Square BulletLEP
Clear Image
Bullet
Square BulletNon Citizens
Clear Image
BulletCommunicating with Older Adults
Clear Image
BulletEmergency Preparedness & Response
Clear Image
BulletEvidence Based Disease Prevention Grants Program
Clear Image
BulletHHS Poverty Guidelines
Clear Image
BulletHomelessness
Clear Image
BulletIntegrated Care Management Grants Program
Clear Image
BulletInternational Aging
Clear Image
BulletNursing Home Diversion Program
Clear Image
BulletProgram Results and Evaluation
Clear Image
BulletStatistics on the Aging Population
Clear Image
BulletTransportation
Clear Image





Civil Rights

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Each time a patient sees a doctor, is admitted to a hospital, goes to a pharmacist or sends a claim to a health plan, a record is made of their confidential health information. In the past, family doctors and other health care providers protected the confidentiality of those records by sealing them away in file cabinets and refusing to reveal them to anyone else. Today, the use and disclosure of this information is protected by a patchwork of state laws, leaving gaps in the protection of patients' privacy and confidentiality.

Congress recognized the need for national patient record privacy standards in 1996 when they enacted the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The law included provisions designed to save money for health care businesses by encouraging electronic transactions, but it also required new safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of that information. The law gave Congress until August 21, 1999, to pass comprehensive health privacy legislation. When Congress did not enact such legislation after three years, the law required the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to craft such protections by regulation.

HIPAA Sub Navigation:

AoA.gov
Site Utilities Tab
  Last Updated Last Modified: 6/20/2008 1:26:39 PM  
  * Printer Friendly Page  
  * Email this page to a friend  
  * Was this page helpful ? Top
 
Contact AoA  |  Feedback  |  Visitor's Guide  |  Privacy Notice  |  Disclaimer  |  Accessibility  |  FOIA  |  Site Map