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HIPAA privacy rules set to begin April 14

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WASHINGTON — The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, to be enacted in the next 2 months, “will revolutionize health coverage as well as create a slew of problems,” said Kirk Nahra, JD, here at the National Congress on Health Care Compliance.

As the compliance deadline for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) approaches, attorneys and compliance officers are “scrambling to make sense of the complicated rule,” he said. HIPAA was conceived in 1996 with the intent of protecting health coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose jobs.

Numerous private companies have their own policies on this issue, so there may be conflicts with the federal rule, Mr. Nahra said. He said hospitals are generally more prepared for the implementation than physicians and businesses.

“Many doctors know about it but don’t understand it, and many may not file by April 14th,” he said.

To get started on compliance, Mr. Nahra suggests beginning an audit of information use and practice, working HIPAA into contract negotiations and educating employees, business associates and providers.