HIPAA

About HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA, controls the way healthcare providers and health plans must handle privacy and security of patient information. Organizations affected by HIPAA must be compliant or risk investigation by the Office of Civil Rights and possible fines and penalties.

HIPAA’s primary purpose is to ensure that protected health information (PHI) is properly handled. PHI is any health information created or received (electronic records, paper records and spoken communication) that could identify a specific person. One of the most obvious pieces of PHI is a patient’s medical record. But, it also includes ID bracelets, photographs, insurance cards, dictation tapes, procedure codes, etc.

If a patient has concerns regarding the use of their PHI at Providence Medical Center, they can do the following:

View the HIPPA policy at Providence Medical Center.

Your Rights Regarding Electronic Health Information Technology

Providence Medical Center participates in electronic health information technology or HIT. This technology allows a provider or health plan top make a single request through a health information organization or HIO to obtain electronic records for a specific patient from other HIT participants for purposes of treatment, payment, or health care operations. HIO’s are required to use appropriate safeguards to prevent unauthorized uses and disclosures.

You have two options with respect to HIT. First, you may permit authorized individuals to access your electronic health information through an HIO. If you choose this option, you do not have to do anything.

Second, you may restrict access to all of your information through an HIO (except as required by law). If you wish to restrict access, you must submit the required information either online at www.kanhit.org or by completing and mailing a form. This form is available at www.kanhit.org. You cannot restrict access to certain information only; your choice is to permit or restrict access to all of your information.

If you have questions regarding HIT or HIO’s please visit www.kanhit.org for additional information.

If you receive health care services in a state other than Kansas, different rules may apply regarding restrictions on access to your electronic health information. Please communicate directly with your out-of-state health care provider regarding those rules.

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