Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Your Health Information Is Protected By Federal Law
Hermiston Fire & Emergency Services complies with these laws
Federal law:
Gives you rights over your health information
Sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information
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 or treatment 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
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
Decide if you want to give your permission before your health information can be used or shared for certain purposes, such as for marketing
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
You should get to know these important rights, which help you protect your health information.
Providers and health insurers who are required to follow this law must keep your information private by:
Teaching the people who work for them how your information may and may not be used and shared
Taking appropriate and reasonable steps to keep your health information secure
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 protect the public's health, such as by reporting when the flu is in your area
To make required reports to the police, such as reporting gunshot wounds
Your health information cannot be used or shared without your written permission unless this law allows it. For example, without your authorization, 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
Published by: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights
For more information or to request a copy of your medical records from HFES, contact the Privacy Officer at phart@hermiston.or.us
or call (541)567-8822
