Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Click here to access our Notice of Privacy Practices.

What does HIPAA stand for?

Answer: HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and includes six complex regulations that aim at standardizing health care transactions, code sets, patient privacy and security.

HIPAA compliance is the responsibility of everyone who works with Lee Health, including employees, physicians, volunteers and contractors.

Who may access confidential information?

Answer: Only those people who need access for business reasons and who have been authorized to receive it.

What information about a patient must be kept confidential?

Answer: Essentially any information that is patient-identifiable, even the patient's address, is confidential and must be protected. This includes diagnoses, test results and billing information. Only when the patient has agreed may it be used or disclosed for specific purposes.

What patient information can we disclose to any caller or visitor who asks?

Answer:  Name, hospital location and general condition may be available to the public when the patient has agreed.

If you are looking for additional information concerning Medical Records or Health Information Management click here.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Privacy Rule Guidance Summary (PDF Format)

HIPAA External Resources

www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa - Office of Civil Rights Website

www.cms.gov - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Lee Memorial Health System Organized Health Care Arrangement Declaration