Federal Register: August 14, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 157)

Rules and Regulations

Page 53181-53273
DOCID:fr14au02-32

Part V

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary
45 CFR Parts 160 and 164
RIN 0991-AB14

Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information

AGENCY: Office for Civil Rights, HHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (``HHS'' or ``Department'') modifies certain standards in the Rule entitled ``Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information'' (``Privacy Rule''). The Privacy Rule implements the privacy requirements of the Administrative Simplification subtitle of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

The purpose of these modifications is to maintain strong protections for the privacy of individually identifiable health information while clarifying certain of the Privacy Rule's provisions, addressing the unintended negative effects of the Privacy Rule on health care quality or access to health care, and relieving unintended administrative burdens created by the Privacy Rule.

DATES: This final rule is effective on October 15, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Felicia Farmer 1-866-OCR-PRIV (1-866-627-7748) or TTY 1-866-788-4989.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability of Copies, and Electronic Access

Copies: To order copies of the Federal Register containing this document, send your request to: New Orders, Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Specify the date of the issue requested and enclose a check or money order payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or enclose your Visa or Master Card number and expiration date. Credit card orders can also be placed by calling the order desk at (202) 512-1800 (or toll-free at 1-866-512-1800) or by fax to (202) 512-2250. The cost for each copy is $10.00. Alternatively, you may view and photocopy the Federal Register document at most libraries designated as Federal Depository Libraries and at many other public and academic libraries throughout the country that receive the Federal Register.

Electronic Access: This document is available electronically at the OCR Privacy Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/, as well as at the Web site of the Government Printing Office at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html.