HIPAA There is a federal law that sets rules for who can look at and receive health information. This law is called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Entities that must follow the HIPAA regulations are known as covered entities. Covered entities include: • Health plans , including health insurance companies, HMOs, company health plans, and certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid. • Most health care providers that conduct certain business electronically, such as electronically billing health insurance—including most doctors, clinics, hospitals, psychologists, chiropractors, nursing homes, pharmacies, and dentists. • Health care clearinghouses that either process or facilitate the processing of health information received from another entity. In addition, business associates of covered entities must follow parts of the HIPAA regulations. Many organizations that have health information are not required to follow HIPPA, including: • Life insurers • Employers • Workers’ compensation carriers • Most schools and school districts • Many state agencies like child protective service agencies • Most law enforcement agencies • Many municipal offices What information is protected? • Information doctors, nurses, and other health care providers put in a medical record. • Conversations a doctor has about a patient’s care or treatment with nurses and others.
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