HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It is a federal statute providing for the development of uniform national health information standards and privacy standards. Congress mandates that the provisions of HIPAA will preempt any contrary state law, unless the state law is more stringent than the related provision of HIPAA, or unless there is a exception applied.

                HIPAA seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by improving portability and continuity of health insurance in group markets, as well as individual markets, combating waste, fraud and abuse in health insurance, promoting the use of medical savings accounts, improving access to long term care services as well as coverage, and simplifying the administrative process of health insurance.

                In 1998, The Department of Health and Human Services suggested a Nation Standard Provider Identifier to help monitor and raise the standards of electronic health data. This was proposed to be part of the HIPAA amendments.

                HIPAA effects many different state agencies, including the following:

                Department of Aging, Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans, Department of Central Management Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services (Department of Public Aid), Department of Public Health, Department of Revenue, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. Each of the eleven agencies listed above have developed HIPAA complaint authorizations to their specific programs.

                The entirety of the HIPAA Act can be downloaded and/or read online. You can authorize a particular agency to communicate with your local legislation by going to the website and downloading the appropriate forms.