Below are two paragraphs explaining HIPAA and websites to go to for the WHOLE THING. I hope those who are interested find what they need here.
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191, was enacted on August 21, 1996. Sections 261 through 264 of HIPAA require the Secretary of HHS to publicize standards for the electronic exchange, privacy and security of health information. Collectively these are known as the Administrative Simplification provisions.
HIPAA required the Secretary to issue privacy regulations governing individually identifiable health information, if Congress did not enact privacy legislation within three years of the passage of HIPAA. Because Congress did not enact privacy legislation, HHS developed a proposed rule and released it for public comment on November 3, 1999. The Department received over 52,000 public comments. The final regulation, the Privacy Rule, was published December 28, 2000.2
In March 2002, the Department proposed and released for public comment modifications to the Privacy Rule. The Department received over 11,000 comments. The final modifications were published in final form on August 14, 2002.3 A text combining the final regulation and the modifications can be found at 45 CFR Part 160 and Part 164, Subparts A and E on the OCR website: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.
WHO IS COVERED BY THE PRIVACY RULE
The Privacy Rule, as well as all the Administrative Simplification rules, apply to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and to any health care provider who transmits health information in electronic form in connection with transactions for which the Secretary of HHS has adopted standards under HIPAA (the “covered entities”). For help in determining whether you are covered, use the decision tool at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2/support/tools/decisionsupport/default.asp.
Ok. My kids want to have the privilege of talking to our doctors and learning what our conditions are. So, I guess I'll have to sign some papers so the drs can divulge what shape we're in. I've already told them everything but they seem to feel I'm holding something back.
You gave very good researched information. I responded in rather a trite manner. Hope you'll forgive me. I don't mean to put down all your hard work.
Either you sign the papers, or you let your kids go with you on your next doctor's appointment so you are there when they ask their questions. And, no, I'm not kidding. My daughter was with me when we went into my husband's last neurologist's appointment.