HIPPA Electronic Communication

General Information

• HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
  
  
• HIPAA was passed by the U.S. government in 1996 in order to establish privacy and security protections for protected health information (PHI)
  
  
• HIPPA information is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website at hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/570/does-hipaa-permit-health-care-providers- to-use-email-to-discuss-health-issues-with-patients/index.html
  
  
• Information stored on Capital City Dentistry's computers are encrypted
  
  
• Most popular email services (e.g., Hotmail®, Gmail®, Yahoo®, etc.) do not utilize encrypted email
  
  
• Text messages sent via standard SMS/apple iMessage are not encrypted or secured
  
  
• Facebook messenger does not utilize encrypted messaging
  
  
• Skype and Facetime are not secured lines of communication

Email and texting are popular and convenient ways to communicate. In their latest modification to the HIPAA act, the federal government provided guidance on electronic communication and HIPAA. Current Federal guidelines state that if a patient has been made aware of the risks of unencrypted communication, and that same patient provides consent to receive health information via electronic communication, then a health entity may send that patient personal medical information via unencrypted electronic means.