URGENT HIPAA UPDATE

The Privacy Regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") will be effective April 14, 2003. You probably are wondering what this means to you and what you should be doing about it. Hopefully this will bring you up to date.

What is HIPAA?

HIPAA is a federal law that requires covered entities to protect the privacy of individuals’ health information. Most Hopkins entities are covered under the Regulations. To protect privacy, the Regulations require Hopkins (among other things) to give privacy notices to patients, safeguard their information, disclose their information only to certain people, keep track of these disclosures and allow individuals to access their medical records.

Who is going to get Hopkins ready for this?

Hopkins has formed one HIPAA Office for both the University and the Health System. This office has been following the development of the Regulations carefully. The Office, with the help of representatives from most Hopkins entities, is preparing the necessary policies and procedures to be used by all the affected Hopkins family. The Office also is preparing teaching modules to be used to help educate the workforce on HIPAA. Training will begin soon after the first of the year.

How can I get more information about HIPAA?

You can call:

Carol Richardson
Privacy Officer
Phone 410-502-7983
Fax 410-955-0636
E-Mail crichar@jhmi.edu

Retta Riordan
HIPAA Attorney
Phone 443-287-3579
Fax 410-955-0636
E-Mail rriorda2@jhmi.edu

Joanne E. Pollak
Vice President with HIPAA Responsibility
Phone 410-614-3323
Fax 410-614-3465
E-Mail jpollak@jhmi.edu

Is there a HIPAA web site?

Yes. To find out the latest information regarding HIPAA please visit the HIPAA web site at
www.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/HIPAA/. This site contains substantive information, answers to frequently asked questions and updates on Hopkins implementation activities.