HIPAA COMPLIANCE

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act) was signed into law on August 21st 1996 and was implemented on October 16th 2003.  This Federal Law impacts all areas of the health care industry.  CMS, (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) formally known as HCFA, requires all providers and suppliers of health care services to be HIPAA Compliant.

Compliance is required by 10-16-2002 unless a one year extension is granted by CMS.  (Small health plans have until 10-16-2003). 

The major components are:

• Standards for transactions and data elements for such transactions that are exchanged electronically.   These standards include ASC X12N 837, Version "4010a" for health care claims and diagnostic code sets ICD-9-CM, CPT-4 and CPT-5.

Geriatric Counseling, Inc. is compliant with these transaction standards and we are an approved electronic submitter with Medicare, Medi-Cal and all Private Insurance plans.  You can have peace of mind knowing that we are working diligently to ensure HIPAA Compliance now and in the future.

• Privacy Regulations to protect the privacy and confidentiality of health care information.  Compliance was required on 04-14-2004.

Geriatric Counseling, Inc. has always protected the privacy of individual health care information.  Under the guidelines of HIPAA, ALL health care information is considered to be private and confidential.

• Security standards to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of health care information when it is electronically stored, maintained or transmitted.   This standard also creates a separate standard for electronic signatures.  Compliance will not be required until 24 months after its adoption and publication.

We continually monitor and if necessary, make adjustments to ensure HIPAA Compliance. 

Should you have questions, comments or concerns regarding HIPAA Compliance, please contact our Corporate office at (800) 424-2686 or info@mygci.com