Protecting the Privacy of Your TRICARE Patients

 
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a federal law that protects patient privacy. It outlines the specific reasons for which providers can use protected health information (PHI) without written authorizations. These include treatment, payment and some health care-related activities such as appointment scheduling and patient billing. Moreover, HIPAA prohibits sharing PHI with outside sources for marketing, research or any other purpose without the beneficiary’s written consent.
 
Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the beneficiary has the right to:

• Receive a copy of the Military Health System (MHS) Notice of Privacy Practices
• Request access to PHI
• Request amendment of PHI
• Request an accounting of PHI disclosures
• Request restrictions on PHI use and disclosure
• File a complaint regarding any privacy infractions

To find the MHS Notice of Privacy Practices and additional information on HIPAA and TRICARE privacy standards, visit www.tricare.mil/hipaa.