The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was signed by President Clinton on August 21, 1996 and is considered to be the most comprehensive piece of legislation to affect healthcare since the introduction of Medicare. HIPAA regulations affect all healthcare providers including hospitals, physician’s offices, pharmacies, medical clearing-houses, and health plans. Collectively, these are known as “covered entities” under the HIPAA regulations.

Health Insurance Reform provisions require implementation of certain practices by health plans and insurers regarding the portability and continuity of health coverage. Administrative Simplification regulations set standards for electronic transactions, privacy of medical records and security of all stored Protected Health Information (PHI). All PHI, either written or in the electronic form is protected and safeguarded at Valley Baptist Health System.

Patients are assured that their PHI will not be accessed by or disclosed to any unauthorized entity. Valley Baptist Health System has addressed privacy concerns with the implementation of operational safeguards, and technological security features.

Please contact a Privacy Officer at (956) 389-1681 if you have any questions.