HIPPA Notices
Your health care provider and health plan must give you a
notice that tells you how they may use and share your health information. It
must also include your health privacy rights.
In most cases, you should receive the notice on your first visit to a provider or in the mail from your health plan. You can also ask for a copy at any time. Under the Privacy Rule, doctors, nurses, hospitals, laboratory technicians, and other health care providers that are covered entities may use or disclose Protected Health Information (PHI), e.g., protected health information, X-rays, laboratory and pathology reports, diagnoses, and other medical information, without the patient’s authorization, for treatment purposes.
A HIPAA authorization form gives covered entities permission to use PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. It is the right of all patients to receive these notices, even those whose main language is not English. Accuracy is key when translating these documents, since there could be legal repercussions. Spanish speaking patients need to be able to understand their rights regarding their protected personal health information.
In most cases, you should receive the notice on your first visit to a provider or in the mail from your health plan. You can also ask for a copy at any time. Under the Privacy Rule, doctors, nurses, hospitals, laboratory technicians, and other health care providers that are covered entities may use or disclose Protected Health Information (PHI), e.g., protected health information, X-rays, laboratory and pathology reports, diagnoses, and other medical information, without the patient’s authorization, for treatment purposes.
A HIPAA authorization form gives covered entities permission to use PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. It is the right of all patients to receive these notices, even those whose main language is not English. Accuracy is key when translating these documents, since there could be legal repercussions. Spanish speaking patients need to be able to understand their rights regarding their protected personal health information.
Miriam Iglesias
Miriam is an ATA certified translator. She has worked extensively in the medical sector enhancing patient and provider communications across languages and cultures.