Patient Rights and Privacy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was designed to improve the portability and continuity of health care coverage in the group and individual insurance markets, and to improve protections against fraud and abuse within the industry.

HIPAA sets the industry standards for the:

• Privacy of protected individual health information
• Electronic transmissions of health information
• Security of this information

As a result of HIPAA, institutions have implemented changes in how health care information is handled, transferred and stored. HIPAA requires institutions to review and modify systems, policies, procedures and behavior.

For patients, HIPAA provides more information with which to make informed choices when seeking health care, and a better understanding of how personal health information may be used.

HIPAA gives you the right to:

• Examine and request copies of their own health records
• Request corrections
• Find out if and how your personal health information has been used for purposes other than treatment

Packard Health’s compliance with HIPAA is NOT optional. Penalties for failing to comply with regulatory requirements or for the wrongful disclosure of protected health information can be severe, with fines and prison sentences resulting from the most serious violations.

Compliance with HIPAA guidelines also provides health care institutions with improved administrative efficiencies, reduced paperwork by promotion of electronic standards, reduced costs and more assurance that health care information remains available, confidential and safeguarded.

To coordinate activities related to full compliance with HIPAA guidelines, Packard Health’s Security Officer and Chief Operating Officer serve as our HIPAA site coordinators. In addition, our Compliance Team works with senior management to see that all aspects of HIPAA guidelines are carried out.

For more information about HIPAA and its impact on you and your personal health information, please check out the following websites:                                                                   

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)