1. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA)
Principles of Biomedical Science
© 2013 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

2. What Is HIPAA?
HIPAA is a law adopted in 1996 to provide standards for release of health care information
HIPAA mandates federal privacy protections for identifiable health information

3. HIPAA Privacy Rule
Regulates how medical professionals use and disclose health information
Called protected health information (PHI)

4. What Information Is Protected?
Name, address, birth date, social security number, etc.
Past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition
The health care services provided
Past, present, or future payment for health care services

5. Maintaining Confidentiality
Professionals are not to speak about patients with anyone other than other professionals working with the patient.
Patient records should not be left in public space unattended
Professionals must make reasonable efforts to avoid being overheard
Professionals may disclose protected health information to a family member with patient consent
Professionals are permitted to communicate with patients regarding their health care, including through the mail or by the phone. Messages may be left with family members, on voice mail, etc. with patient consent.

6. When Health Information Can Be Shared
Payment of benefits
Controlling infectious disease
Preventing injury
Preventing child abuse
Preventing any serious threat to public health
For workmen’s compensation
For legal proceedings
For law enforcement agencies
apprehend fugitives, identify victims or missing persons
For disaster relief
Assisting coroners or medical examiners
Under the age of 18