What are the specific HIPAA regulations for mental/behavioral health programs?
If you are a behavioral/mental health program, you will be probably be governed by all of the HIPAA regulations that apply to “health care providers.” Broadly generalized, this means: (1) if you engage in “covered electronic transactions,” you must utilize the standardized transactions set forth in the EDI regulations when exchanging data with another covered entity; (2) you can use and disclose protected health information in accordance with the privacy regulations only as approved by the individual for certain purposes; and (3) you must safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of health information that is stored or maintained electronically, as set forth in the security regulations. The HIPAA regulations (EDI, privacy, and security) do not make distinctions between types of providers (i.e., general health and mental health). Instead, the regulations apply to “covered enitities,” one type of which is a “health care provider” that participates in some sort of electro
If you are a behavioral/mental health program, you will be probably be governed by all of the HIPAA regulations that apply to “health care providers.” Broadly generalized, this means: (1) if you engage in “covered electronic transactions,” you must utilize the standardized transactions set forth in the EDIregulations when exchanging data with another covered entity; (2) you can use and disclose protected health information in accordance with the privacy regulations only as approved by the individual for certain purposes; and (3) you must safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of health information that is stored or maintained electronically, as set forth in the security regulations. The HIPAA regulations (EDI, privacy, and security) do not make distinctions between types of providers (i.e., general health and mental health). Instead, the regulations apply to “covered enitities,” one type of which is a “health care provider” that participates in some sort of electron
