The rules outlined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (or HIPAA), were instituted to protect any medical information from being shared without a patient’s consent. Only among healthcare personnel can patient information be shared. As a patient or family of a patient, you have rights that require your information to be kept confidential by your healthcare providers. Additionally, you have full control of how and when your information is shared or used.

Any information that is taken about a patient’s care whether orally, on paper, or electronically is protected. Information about a person’s physical or mental health, services provided, and/or any form of payment agreed upon or made is protected.