Physical Therapy Association of Washington HIPPA Resources

A Chapter of the American
Physical Therapy Association

HIPAA
(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)

In response to questions from PTWA members regarding HIPAA compliance, the PTWA office has compiled this list of basic information and resources. The items listed below should be good places to start for physical therapy professionals who are searching for HIPAA information.

Resources for physical therapists:

Articles:

See the November 2002issue of APTA'S PT Magazine for an article titled "The HIPAA Privacy Final Modified Rule," by Karen Ravitz, JD, formerly of the APTA Government Affairs Department or click here to view it online.

Internet links:

APTA information on HIPAA, including historical summaries, a "gap Analysis" tool, and other web resources: http://www.apta.org/Govt_Affairs/regulatory/privatepractice/hipaa/HIPAA_Privacy

APTA HIPAA compliance tool specifically designed for physical therapy. (This costs between $600 and $900, depending on the size of the organization.): http://www.apta.org/products_services/online_shopping/hipaastepspt

US Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) HIPAA FAQS: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/faqs1001.doc

HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) The government office in charge of enforcing HIPAA privacy rules: http://www.os.dhhs.gov/ocr/hipaa

American Health Information Management Association Can subscribe to a free electronic newsletter on HIPAA compliance: http://www.ahima.org/homeimpluse/impulse.html

Healthcare Pro's Healthcare Privacy & Security Supersite with HIPAA articles and compliance products: http://www.hipaapro.com

Health Information Management (HIM) Supersite, features HIPAA products, articles, and resources: http://www.himinfo.com

Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), a forum for health care compliance professionals: http://hcca-info.org

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), information and resources on HIPAA compliance: http://cms.gov/hipaa/default.asp
Some basic information:
As explained by Karen Ravitz, JD at the HIPAA course presented by ASIG,
HIPAA, Title 2, the Administrative simplification encompasses 3 main areas:

Transaction and code sets

Privacy

Security

Compliance dates:

Transaction and codes sets: The deadline was Oct. 15, 2002, unless an extension was filed, in which case the deadline is Oct. 16, 2003.

Privacy rule: The deadline is April 14, 2003. No extension of this compliance date is expected.

Security: No final rule or compliance date is available at this time.

As published in APTA's PT Bulletin Online:

To help organizations determine whether they are considered a covered entity under HIPAA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted a set of flow charts on its website. The charts address health care providers, clearinghouses, private benefit health plans, and government-funded health plans. To access the charts, go to www.cms.gov/hipaa/hipaa2/support/tools/decisionsupport/default.asp.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently appointed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enforce the transaction and code set standards that are part of the administrative simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A fact sheet summarizing the administrative simplification standards required by HIPAA is available at www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/hipaa.html.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights will enforce the HIPAA privacy standards, which will go into effect on April 14, 2003.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently posted frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) regarding compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on its website. The guidance covers the use of sign-in sheets, determining receipts for a small health plan, faxing information, and more. www.hhs.gov/ocr/faqs1001.doc

APTA members who need help in determining their current level of compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations are encouraged to find more information at http://www.apta.org/Govt_Affairs/regulatory/privatepractice/hipaa/HIPAA_Privacy and consider using HIPAAstepsPT, a complete online HIPAA solution that allows users to establish a record of compliance efforts, create necessary documentation, and train online.

APTA received clarification from the Department of Health and Human Services that facsimiles are not considered electronic media. This information affects many small physical therapy providers who do not conduct the standard transactions identified in the HIPAA regulation in electronic format.
Additional APTA/PTWA membercontacts for HIPAA compliance questions:
APTA Government Affairs Dept: 1-800-999-2782 ext. 8533

Search http://www.apta.org with the keyword "HIPAA"