The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT (HIPAA) are for the standardization of electronic data and national identifiers for providers, health plans and employers. HIPAA also addresses the security and privacy of health data. HIPAA affects all healthcare organizations, which includes providers, employers, insurance companies, clearinghouses and billing agencies. These standards will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care system.

Your deadline in April 14th, 2003, let us help you with your compliance issues.  We can set your office up with forms that you need patients to sign, a Compliance Plan, a Compliance Manual, Procedure & Policy Manual, and a Patient Privacy Brochure to give to your patients and  post in your waiting room or office.  Call or email us for prices.

This is what can happen to you if you're not HIPAA compliant:

Improper use or disclosure of PHI (Private Health Information) can result in the following fines:

• Civil monetary penalties for HIPAA privacy violations are $100 per incident, up to $25,000 per person, per year, per standard
• A person who knowingly violates HIPAA and obtains IIHI (Individual Identifiable Health Information) or discloses IIHI to another person may be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned up to 1 year, or both.
• If the offense is committed with the intent to sell, transfer or use IIHI for commercial advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm, the fine may be up to $250,000 and imprisonment up to 10 years.

UPDATES:

October 16 compliance Date delayed!!  After a careful analysis of Medicare provider, submitter and other trading partner HIPAA readiness, Medicare will continue to accept and send standard and non-standard version and/or formats for any electronic transaction for a limited time period beyond Oct. 16, 03.  The contingency plan is only FOR A LIMITED TIME!  For more information go to: http://www.wpsic.com/medicare/provider/hipaa_medicare.shtml

For More information on HIPAA, try the following sites:

http://www.cms.gov/hipaa/

http://www.hipaacomply.com

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7429.htm/