Two national administrations have struggled to get HIPAA up and running. The history, politics and changing concepts behind HIPAA are chronicled in the archived articles.
News
CMS provides instructions for compliance plans that will get physicians an extension on HIPAA compliance requirements
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted on its Web site instructions for, and a model of, a compliance plan that can be used to request more time to comply with the standards for electronic transactions and code sets. ( Action , May 2002)
Government Amends Privacy Regulations
The Bush Administration proposed revised health privacy regulations in March 2002 that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says would protect personal medical information while improving access to care were proposed. ( Action , April 2002)
The privacy debate: HIPAA regulations take effect but the battle is far from over
The Bush Administration suddenly reverses course and releases new HIPAA regulations governing privacy. ( Texas Medicine , June 2001) 
HHS rules out delaying HIPAA privacy rules
The Bush administration announces that it will not delay privacy rules covering the release of medical information required by HIPAA. Implementation of the rules had been delayed temporarily after President George W. Bush ordered a review of all last-minute Clinton administration rules. ( Action , May 2001)
HHS secretary delays start of federal privacy rules
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson has delayed the effective date of privacy rules required by the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) until April 14, 2001. ( Action , March 2001)
Bush Cancels Clinton Orders
Just minutes after taking office on January 20, 2001, President George W. Bush issued an executive order that cancels or delays scores of his predecessor's 11th-hour orders. Among the controversial Clinton Administration regulations that appear to be affected by this move are the HIPAA medical privacy rules. (January 2001)
Health and Human Services issues privacy regulations on Dec. 28, 2000
Federal standards for protecting the privacy of patients' medical records were announced in late December 2000 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The standards , which were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 28, 2000, apply to all patients, whether they are privately insured, uninsured, or covered by Medicare or Medicaid. ( Action , January 2001)
Medical Technology
Palm-top computers hold offer big promises for medicine, but HIPAA compliance is not one of them
Although palm-top computers offer many advantages for physicians, doctors should be aware that palm-tops do not meet HIPAA privacy standards. (October 2001)
The ASP - It's Not a Snake, But it May Bite You
Application service providers (ASPs) allow subscribing physicians to store and access data on remote servers, but they may not be HIPAA compliant. (May 2001)
Additional Information
Caution urged in buying HIPAA compliance products
Physicians should not rush out and spend thousands of dollars to comply with anticipated federal regulations imposing strict privacy standards for computerized patient medical records. ( Action , November 2000)
TMA Task Force on Privacy Report - 2001
In 2000, TMA formed a task force to study privacy issues. In a report issued in 2001, the task force explains TMA proposals and comments on HIPAA regulations and what needs to be done to strengthen patient privacy.
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