Here is your latest FYI: Employee Benefits
Update from Cindy Van
Bogaert, Partner and Chair of the Employee Benefits Practice Group at
Boardman Law Firm LLP.
This FYI addresses the HIPAA Security compliance requirements
for employers with health plans (including, e.g., most medical,
dental, vision, and health flexible spending accounts). The deadline for
compliance for "small" plans is April 20, 2006.
What is HIPAA security? HIPAA
stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA
privacy rules cover general privacy and security of "protected health information" of
individuals. The HIPAA security rules cover security of electronic protected
health information.
What do employers with health plans need to do to comply with
the HIPAA security rules? The HIPAA security rules generally involve taking
appropriate security measures for electronic protected health
information. Review and documentation are important. The requirements
for each employer will be somewhat different depending on whether a plan
is insured or not and the degree of access to plan information by the
employer.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Cindy
Van Bogaert at (608) 281-7543 or cvanbog@boardmanlawfirm.com.
Would you like to have FYI: Employee Benefits Update sent
directly to your e-mail inbox? If so, please send your request,
with e-mail address, to Cindy Van Bogaert at cvanbog@boardmanlawfirm.com.
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