INTRODUCTION

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) imposes several new legal requirements upon group health plans and plan administrators. The most significant of these requirements include a new coverage certification requirement, a prohibition on health-based discrimination.

The privacy rules contain standards for the use and disclosure of an individual’s protected health information. The standards set out a range of Administrative Requirements that assure that covered entities maintain an environment that will promote the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI).

The complete manual of rules and regulations can be found in the following offices at Horizons Unlimited: Program Manager, Office Manager, Group Homes and SAIL Offices.