LifeCare Plus+ HIPAA Compliance Information

• What is HIPAA?
  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
  A Federal law that makes a number of changes that have the goal of allowing persons to qualify immediately for comparable health insurance coverage when they change their employment relationships. Title II, Subtitle F, of HIPAA gives DHHS the authority to mandate the use of standards for the electronic exchange of health care data; to specify what medical and administrative code sets should be used within those standards; to require the use of national identification systems for health care patients, providers, payers (or plans), and employers (or sponsors); and to specify the types of measures required to protect the security and privacy of personally identifiable health care information.  Also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Bill, the Kassebaum-Kennedy Bill, K2, or Public Law 104-191.

• Why must LifeCare Plus+ comply with HIPAA?
  All healthcare providers, health plans, payers, clearinghouses, and other entities that process health data must comply.
  Any healthcare provider that electronically sends one of the transactions covered in the Final Rules (Claims, remittances, claim status inquiries, eligibility, certification) is covered by HIPAA. Any organization that electronically stores or transmits individually identified healthcare information must comply with the Security regulation. So, if the organization does any of the above (file a claim electronically or electronically store any healthcare info that can be tracked back to an individual) they must comply with the appropriate HIPAA regulation.

• Since the regulations frequently refer to "electronic" communication, what media falls into that category?
  HIPAA applies to all communication that is stored or transmitted electronically, or that has been stored or transmitted electronically in the past. Media includes, but is not limited to, computer databases, tapes, disks, telecommunications, FAX, Internet, networks.
• What steps or procedures are in place in the LifeCare Plus+ Network that make it HIPAA compliant?
  The LifeCare Plus+ Network utilizes SSL Technology, Digital signatures and certificates, and hardware and software security applications. The LifeCare Plus+ Network does not send patient names, social security numbers, or any other information that can identify any one patient in particular. Care Providers that receive patient referrals must contact the submitting party directly to receive any patient identifying information.

To request more information about the LifeCare Plus+ Network's HIPAA compliancy procedures, please contact a LifeCare Plus+ Customer Service representative.  Email a Customer Service representative at info@lifecareplus.com and include your facility's phone number and a your direct phone number or extension, or  call 1.573.808.5140 between the hours of 9:00am - 6:00pm Monday through Friday.