HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

• Target Audience: every client (or guardian) will have to sign documents related to HIPAA before services are provided.
• For more information, call (618) 692-8954 ext. 2.

Description

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by Congress in 1996. HIPAA provides protection for the privacy of certain individually identifiable health data, referred to as protected health information (PHI). Balancing the protection of individual health information with the need to protect public health, HIPAA permits disclosures without individual authorization to public health authorized by law to collect or receive the information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, including but not limited to public health surveillance, investigation, and intervention. 

The latest revision of HIPAA, dated September 23, 2013, helps clarify how and when PHI can be disclosed.  The new revision places greater restrictions on PHI on electronic devices.  Our policy at Madison County Health Department is that NO PHI can be on any laptop, cell/smart phone, or any mobile device.  All clients are asked to sign that the new HIPAA notices are posted in the clinic, copies are available to clients upon request, and can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices