This Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as supplemented by HITECH Act of 2009 (collectively known as HIPAA) are federal laws that apply to health plans, health care providers and health care clearinghouses. The HIPAA legislation is complex and has many components. The three areas of legislation that are the major for ASLC include:

• Privacy – provides rules in regard to how an individual’s health information may be used and disclosed
• Transaction Code Sets – requires the use of standard transaction formats and code sets when an individual’s financial health information is transmitted electronically.
• Security – requires specific security measures to be in place to protect an individual’s health information that is sent or stored electronically.

ASLC provides all new employees with a HIPAA overview during new employee orientation. Some employees depending upon their job duties may require additional training. Violations of HIPAA are extremely serious and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.