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Office for Civil Rights - HIPAA

For Smaller Providers, Small Health Plans, and other Small Businesses

Smaller providers, small health plans, and other small businesses have found the links on this page to be particularly useful. However, we encourage you to review all the materials on our site.

  • OCR Summary of HIPAA Privacy Rule posted [RTF] | [PDF]
    • This is a summary of key elements of the Privacy Rule including who is covered, what information is protected, uses and disclosures of protected health information, and individual rights provided in the Rule.
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of particular interest to smaller providers, small health plans, and small businesses. NEW! FAQs on compliance date for small health plans.
  • Sample Business Associate Contract Provisions
  • Am I a covered entity? HHS helps answer this question with a new easy-to-use question and answer decision tool. - October 25, 2002
  • Guidance on specific aspects of the Privacy Rule
  • If you can't find the answers you need in the materials listed above, contact our toll-free number (866) 627-7748. Operators on these lines area able to respond directly to many frequently asked questions. If the operators cannot answer your question, you will be directed to a telephone line where you can leave a specific message. OCR staff will return your call and try to assist you.
  • Videos are available for $75 from the national conference on the Privacy Rule that the Department of Health and Human Services sponsored in conjunction with the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center in March, 2003. To order a set of tapes, contact SUNY.

In addition, for specialized information on research, such as when you are permitted to disclose information for research purposes, or for understanding and complying with Privacy Rule responsibilities for public health reporting, the following two references are available:

Last revised: April 5, 2004

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