Patient Medical Information

The US Department of Health and Human Services issued the privacy rules to implement the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.  The HIPAA privacy rules establish national standards in protecting the medical records and personal health information of patients.  

The rules safeguard the privacy of personal health information. It sets the limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be done on such pertinent information without the knowledge and authorization of the patient.

HIPAA privacy rules give rights to patients to manage their health information, including the right to examine and obtain a copy of their health records. In this light, patients also have the right to request for any corrections necessary on their health information.

The privacy rules for HIPAA apply to health plans, health clearinghouses, and to health care providers that conduct healthcare transactions electronically.Health Plans include individual or group plans that pay for the coverage of the medical care such as health, dental, Health Maintenance Organization, Medicare and Medicare supplement and long-term insurers, and employer-sponsored and government-sponsored health plans.

Health care providers who transmit health information regarding claims, benefits and benefit eligibility inquiries, referral authorizations and other transactions about patient information are covered by HIPAA rules. Health care providers include providers for medical and health services such as hospitals, physicians, dentists and other healthcare practitioners.

Healthcare clearinghouses are entities that process individually identifiable health information, nonstandard information, repricing companies, billing services, community health management information systems and value-added networks