Keeping your health information confidential

Finding a strategy that will help you adopt a healthier lifestyle in today's fast-paced world is no simple task. That's why Rockwell Collins is introducing a new wellness program, which is an enhancement to the "My Health While Working" component of our Flexible Benefits Choices program.

The goal of this program is to keep our employees healthy by offering tools to help you manage your existing health issues and prevent future illnesses. While helping you address life's health challenges through a variety of resources and services is important, we also recognize the need to respect your right to privacy.

In today's high-tech world, keeping your personal information confidential can be a cause for much concern. Rest assured though, your health information is safely protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Under HIPAA guidelines, medical information cannot be given out without your authorization:

To your employer
For marketing or advertising purposes
To share private notes about your mental health

On Feb. 16, 2006, the United States Health and Human Services issued the final rule regarding HIPAA enforcement in the U.S. It became effective on March 16, 2006. Your privacy rights under HIPAA include:

The Enforcement Rule sets civil money penalties for violating HIPAA rules and establishes procedures for investigations and hearings for HIPAA violations.
Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs.
The Administrative Simplification provisions require the establishment of national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans and employers.
These provisions also address the security and privacy of health data. The standards are meant to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care system by encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange in the U.S. health care system.

Find out more about what privacy rights are guaranteed to you through HIPAA:

English http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_rights.pdf
Spanish http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_rightssp.pdf

Who can look at and receive your information?

English http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf
Spanish http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summarysp.pdf

Answers to frequently asked questions about health information privacy and civil rights are provided on the U.S. Health and Human Services Web site:

http://healthprivacy.answers.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/hipaa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

Volume 12 Issue 1 > Getting healthy while you work > Keeping your health information confidential
Volume 12 Issue 1 A look ahead at FY'07 Getting healthy while you work Investing in your future Finding the right people A plan in action From Clay Jones Letters to the editor Contributors in this issue Across our company Service anniversaries Retirees Facility spotlight		Keeping your health information confidential Finding a strategy that will help you adopt a healthier lifestyle in today's fast-paced world is no simple task. That's why Rockwell Collins is introducing a new wellness program, which is an enhancement to the "My Health While Working" component of our Flexible Benefits Choices program. The goal of this program is to keep our employees healthy by offering tools to help you manage your existing health issues and prevent future illnesses. While helping you address life's health challenges through a variety of resources and services is important, we also recognize the need to respect your right to privacy. In today's high-tech world, keeping your personal information confidential can be a cause for much concern. Rest assured though, your health information is safely protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under HIPAA guidelines, medical information cannot be given out without your authorization: To your employer For marketing or advertising purposes To share private notes about your mental health On Feb. 16, 2006, the United States Health and Human Services issued the final rule regarding HIPAA enforcement in the U.S. It became effective on March 16, 2006. Your privacy rights under HIPAA include: The Enforcement Rule sets civil money penalties for violating HIPAA rules and establishes procedures for investigations and hearings for HIPAA violations. Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. The Administrative Simplification provisions require the establishment of national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans and employers. These provisions also address the security and privacy of health data. The standards are meant to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care system by encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange in the U.S. health care system. Find out more about what privacy rights are guaranteed to you through HIPAA: English http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_rights.pdf Spanish http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_rightssp.pdf Who can look at and receive your information? English http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf Spanish http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summarysp.pdf Answers to frequently asked questions about health information privacy and civil rights are provided on the U.S. Health and Human Services Web site: http://healthprivacy.answers.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/hipaa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php