HIPAA Information Page

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Public Law 104-191

Introduction

The HIPAA law, though passed in 1996, is being implemented over several years. According to this law, health plans, health care clearinghouses and health care providers who conduct certain financial and administrative transactions electronically are considered "covered entities." All covered entities need to read and understand their obligations under the various rules of this law.

The Transaction Rule will determine the electronic format for data transmitted between health care providers and health insurance plans or Medicaid and other governmental health plans.  This rule is effective October 16, 2002, but covered entities may submit a plan to postpone compliance for one year – until October 16, 2003. It is now fully implemented.

The Security Rule was developed to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of individual health records. Any health care provider, health care clearinghouse or health plan that electronically maintains or transmits health information pertaining to an individual must comply with the security standards. This rule is effective April 20, 2005.

The Privacy Rule gives patients greater access to their own medical records and more control over how their personal health information is used. The privacy rule was implemented April 14, 2003.

National Provider Identifier rule will be implemented May 23, 2005.  Compliance is required by May 23, 2007 except for small health plans.

King County’s Role

King County MHCADS Division is attempting to coordinate with and support our health care providers by maintaining this Web page with links to HIPAA Web pages and other resources. We will not offer legal advice, nor will we produce a compliance plan for other organizations. However, we will work together with providers to learn the requirements of the law and to implement the necessary policies and procedures prior to its implementation. Each county provider is invited to submit the name and e-mail address of its HIPAA contact person. We will send HIPAA information on a regular basis to this email list.

Note: Links and resources listed on our website are provided as a convenience to providers; they are not endorsed by King County MHCADSD.

For more information, please contact the King County MHCADSD lead staff person for HIPAA compliance, Lyscha Marcynyszyn, MHCADSD Privacy Officer .

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