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KEY ISSUE: HIPAA
HIPAA
Important information from the CDC/NIP:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule has been in effect since April 14, 2003. Initially, a lack of information and misinterpretation of some HIPAA provisions had a negative impact on the conduct of some time-honored public health activities. NIP has worked closely with Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, which is the lead agency for interpreting and enforcing HIPAA and CDC legal counsel to clarify public health provisions of the Privacy Rule and to disseminate information to our partners at the state and local levels. In August 2003, NIP sent the first of a series of guidance statements to Immunization Program Managers and State Epidemiologists in response to states’ requests for clarification regarding access to patient records to conduct VFC and AFIX site visits.
Several states have requested written materials clarifying other questions and concerns about HIPAA. A second document in the series of guidance statements has been produced: HIPAA and Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention, a cover letter from Dr. Steve Cochi, Acting Director, NIP, and the original HIPAA and Public Health Fact Sheet. We hope that you will find this information useful as you educate your provider groups and work with your respective legal offices on HIPAA issues. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Horlick at gyh6@cdc.gov or 404-639-8345.
Click here for this important document (.pdf).
Click here for the CDC HIPAA Fact Sheet (.doc).
Click here for the CDC/NIP IIS State Legislation Survey web page.