Health Insurance Portability and Accountability

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rules, effective with respect to the University’s health plans on April 14, 2003, limit the University’s ability to receive and use individually identifiable health information (“Protected Health Information”). Protected Health Information can be used only for purposes of administering the health plans and not for other purposes (including, especially, employment-related purposes such as hiring and firing decisions). Questions regarding HIPAA should be directed to the Office of Human Resources.