Client Services / Health / HIPAA

HIPAA

The Privacy Rules under HIPAA set forth complex limitations on the use of an individual’s identifiable health information significantly affecting the way health care information is handled. The rules will affect the use and disclosure of health information by all health care providers, health plans, clearinghouses and business associates. For most, compliance with the rules is required by April 2003 and is expected to be costly, require organization-wide changes in managing health information, and the negotiation of safeguards with business associates.

Following Congressional approval of HIPAA, we formed a HIPAA Practice Group to address the concerns of our clients. With the release of the final privacy regulations, we are assisting health-related businesses with the implementation of the new requirements. We offer a host of pragmatic tools and services to assist in compliance. In addition to general counseling, services include the following: a privacy audit checklist and assessment; a customized privacy compliance plan based on the results of the initial audit and gap analysis; administrative policies and procedures for privacy and security; training sessions and educational materials for personnel; contract addenda for use with business associates; consent and authorization forms for use with patients and customers and introductions to businesses that provide technical security solutions.

We developed HIPAA Privacy Solutions, a comprehensive HIPAA implementation tool including policies, forms and contract language that, depending on the organization, may be implemented with minimal or no additional outside legal assistance. The tool is offered in modules tailored for use in specific industry segments including hospitals and health systems, physicians and medical groups, health insurance issuers, group health plans, research organizations and academic medical centers.

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Health Client Services

McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will and Emery