HHS issues guidance on security, privacy rules.
The Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979
Health and Human Services, HHS (HHS HHS Department of Health and Human Services. ) recently released new guidance for physical therapists and other covered providers on some of the most frequently asked questions about the security rules issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website, Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when (HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191) Also known as the "Kennedy-Kassebaum Act," this U.S. law protects employees' health insurance coverage when they change or lose their jobs (Title I) and provides standards for patient health, ). The deadline for compliance with the security rule is April 21, 2005, but providers should be taking steps now to meet the new standards.
HHS also published new information to help physical therapists and other providers inform consumers about their rights under the HIPAA privacy rule, which went into effect last year. Both documents can be accessed via the August 20 issue of PT Bulletin Online.
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