HIPAA Privacy Standards

The HIPAA Privacy Standards require physicians to protect the privacy of patients' medical information. Physicians are required to control the ways in which they use and disclose patients' "protected health information." In addition, physicians are required to offer patients certain rights with respect to their information, such as the right to access and copying, the right to request amendments, and the right to request an accounting. Finally, physicians are required to have certain administrative protections in place (such as a Privacy Officer, staff training, and implementation of appropriate Policies and Procedures) to further protect the privacy of patients' information. The compliance date for the Privacy Standards was April 14, 2003.

Download How to "HIPAA" - Top 10 Tips to understand the basics about the Privacy Rules.

Learn More about the Privacy Rules:

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Federal Privacy Legislation

• Guidance on the HIPAA Privacy Rule

• Organized Health Care Arrangement

Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Web site to view:

• Full text of the Privacy Rule
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• Frequently Asked Questions, Guidance, and other helpful documents
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AMA Compliance Resources