We have the complete report and an executive summary of “What it Means to the Healthcare Industry”

On July 6, 2001 the Health and Human Services (HHS) attempted to clarify the “privacy” aspects of HIPAA with the release of the much-anticipated “Guidance to the Privacy Rule.”

Unlike the usual “much ado about nothing,” this document provides clarification of many of the difficult-to-understand portions of the rule. It also offers some insight into the probable changes that will be made to ease the burden of compliance from both the provider and patient’s point of view.

While we have included the complete HHS document, it is important for healthcare providers to realize that as the media supplies more and more coverage to HIPAA-related stories, patients and healthcare consumers will be asking more and more questions about privacy policies.

HIPAAntidote.com is dedicated to the rapid dissemination of news and policy changes that are related to HIPAA and the healthcare industry. Here is an Executive Summary of the HHS Guidance to Privacy Rule,

• There is a general reinforcement of the concept that Strategic Healthcare Initiatives has stressed to clients. There is a “reasonableness” to HIPAA. Healthcare providers should always ask, “What would a reasonable person do in this situation?”
• Instead of the expensive and far-reaching changes that many predicted for HIPAA, these guidelines clearly show HHS willingness to make compliance achievable without “breaking the bank.”
• The guidance clearly delineates that policy and procedure development and training are the core elements to compliance.

This report is well worth the time it takes to read and its “question and answer” format give the HIPAA neophyte a balanced view of “privacy”.

For the complete HHS document, click here. Remember, in order to return to HIPAAntidote, you must close the window to the HHS browser.

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