ADVISORY/HIPAA Update: Final Rules To Protect Patient Privacy To be Published December 28th.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...for Friday (Dec. 21)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Deloitte Consulting and Deloitte & Touche Practitioners

Available To Discuss Impact On Health Care Organizations

WHAT:   The nation's first-ever standards for protecting the privacy
        of Americans' personal health records have been published by
        the Department of Health & Human Services and fall under the
        provision of the Health Insurance Portability and
        Accountability Act (HIPAA). The final rules, to be published
        on the Federal Register later this month, are significantly
        different from original drafts submitted. The new regulation
        will protect electronic, oral and paper medical records and
        other personal health information maintained by health care
        providers, hospitals, health plans and health insurers, and
        health care clearinghouses.

        Deloitte Consulting and Deloitte & Touche practitioners are
        available to provide insight into:

        -   What the rules mean for the health care industry and
            health care consumers.

        -   If these rules will calm patients' fears regarding privacy
            and help act as a catalyst for setting online privacy
            standards.

        -   What examples they set for businesses.

        -   Whether third parties who have access to patient
            information need to comply with HIPAA.

WHO:    Deloitte Consulting
        Julia Cooney, principal, head of HIPAA Services

        Deloitte & Touche
        Jody Noon, RN, JD, heads the Health Information Privacy
        Services

DETAILS:To speak with a Deloitte Consulting/Deloitte & Touche
        practitioner or to receive relevant HIPAA materials, please
        contact Amy Hunt at [phone] or [e-mail]
        or Sharon Rodney at [phone] or
        [e-mail].