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Mental Health Consumers’ rights
HIPAA: The Federal Health Insurance Portability
And Accountability Act of 1996
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Privacy and Your Health Information
Most of us feel that our health and medical information is private and should be protected, and we want to know who has this information. Now, federal law
- gives you rights over your health information and
- sets rules and limits on who can view and receive your health information.
Your health information is protected by federal law
Who must follow this law?
- Most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and many other health care providers
- Health insurance companies, HMOs, most employer group health plans
- Certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid
What information is protected?
- Information your doctors, nurses, and other health care
providers put in your medical record
- Conversations your doctor has about your care with nurses and others
- Information about you in your health insurer's
computer system
- Billing information about you at your clinic
- Most other health information about you held by those
who must follow this law
The law gives you rights over your health information
Providers and health insurers who are required to follow this law must comply with your right to
- ask to see and get a copy of your health records
- have corrections added to your health information
- receive a notice that tells you how your health information may be used and shared
- get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes
If you believe your rights are being denied or your health information isn't being protected, you can
- file a complaint with your provider or health insurer
- file a complaint with the U.S. Government
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 The Law Sets Rules and Limits on Who Can Look At and Receive Your Information
To make sure that your information is protected in a way that does not interfere with your health care, your information can be used and shared
- for your treatment and care coordination
- to pay doctors and hospitals for your health care and help run their businesses
- with your family, relatives, friends or others you identify who are involved with your health care or your health care bills, unless you object
- to make sure doctors give good care and nursing homes are clean and safe
- to make required reports to the police, such as reporting gunshot wounds
Without your written permission, your provider generally cannot
- give your information to your employer
- use or share your information for marketing or advertising purposes
- share private notes about your mental health counseling sessions
For More Information
You can learn more about health information privacy and your rights in a fact sheet called "Your Health Information Privacy Rights". You can get this from the HIPPA website.
You can also call 1-866-627-7748; the phone call is free.
HIPAA is an amendment to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes.
See Mental Health for consumer rights
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Page updated August 1, 2009 |
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