Now that it has been a few years since the implementation of the HIPAA privacy regulations (April 14, 2003 ) we thought we would review what the Notice of Privacy Practices [NPP] document is, what use it is to you, and to take the pulse on what, if any, use this document has in the industry.
An NPP is a document with three sections and outlines the uses and disclosures of your confidential medical information, your consumer rights to and about your confidential medical information and tells you how to lodge a complaint if you think someone has misused your confidential medical information. You receive this document at your doctor's office, when you go to a lab to have your blood drawn or an X-ray / MRI taken, or when you take your child to the emergency department of your local hospital. You may also get this document from your dentist and your physical therapist.
You probably received your first set of NPP's in the spring of 2003 when you went to your doctor(s) and used the ancillary clinics at your local hospital. You may continue to receive NPP's when you use the ancillary clinics because many have made the decision to give one to everyone for each visit. The decision to do this was made because to keep a log of who, when, where and how on each patient would take up not only too much administrative time but also too much computer storage space.
Lately, the healthcare magazines, reporters and listservs are 'talking' a lot about episodes where someone is not offered an NPP. The NPP documents have become ubiquitous. The culture has flipped from 'what is this document?' to 'where is that document?' and 'why did I not get one this time or at this provider?'
The NPP outlines the ways your medical providers can and do use your confidential medical information. Additionally it outlines how and to whom they may and do disclose your confidential medical information. The uses and disclosures really have not changed, but this is the first time you have them written all down in one document.