New confidentiality rules in place

New federal rules that protect the confidentiality of health information used in clinical practice, research and the operations of health-care facilities took effect on April 14. The privacy rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act give patients new federal rights, and protect those rights by requiring health-care providers and human-subjects researchers to follow certain procedures. All campus units affected by the new rules are now in compliance.

For more information, contact HIPAA compliance officer Rebecca Hutton, 263-9158, hutton@bascom.wisc.edu, or visit http://www.wisc.edu/hipaa/.