Volume 19, Number 5

The Bridge

                  Jan.2003


HEALTH CORNER
By Judy Nance, R. N.

Remember your flu shot. Flu shots are available through most Doctor's offices or through the Art Mollen flu clinics. Call (602) 277-3588 for the flu hot line. The Pneumonia shot is important for people with chronic health problems or those over the age of 60 years of age.

hypodermic

HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Congress mandated the establishment of standards for the privacy Rule, which establishes safeguards to protect the confidentiality of medical information. This became effective 4-14-01 and compliance is required by April 2003. It gives patients more control over their health information, sets boundaries on the use and release of health records, holds violators accountable with civil & criminal penalties, enableenables patients to find out how their information is used, limits release of information to the minimum reasonably needed for the purpose of disclosure, and gives patients the right to examine and obtain a copy of their own health records and request corrections. The Health & Human Services web site and the Office for Civil Rights have excellent information at www.hhs.gov.