HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and accountability Act that was passed by Congress in 1996. The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects the privacy of your health information; it says who can look at and receive your health information, and also gives you specific rights over that information. HIPAA is only one of several regulations we are required to follow in providing privacy protections.
HIPAA requires all treatment providers and health plans to distribute a notice that explains your rights as a patient, how your medical information may be used, what our legal obligations are to you, and how you may contact us for information or to file a complaint. This notice is called our Notice of Privacy Practices and is available online or at any of our health care facilities.
The Orange County Health Care Agency is committed to safe-guarding patient's privacy, especially the rights of people in sensitive health groups including those receiving mental healthcare, drug and alcohol treatment services, sexually transmitted disease services and HIV treatment. In addition to current California privacy laws, HIPAA sets a national standard on how health care providers and health plans must protect medical information.
For more information send us an email or call (714) 568-5614.