HIPAA patient privacy guidelines:
in 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was published. Most organizations in our industry must comply with this privacy and security elements of the HIPAA act as of April 14, 2003. This regulation has three major purposes:

• To protect and enhance the rights of consumers by providing them access to their health information and controlling the inappropriate use of that information.

• To improve the quality of health care in the U.S. by restoring trust in the health care system among consumers, health care professionals, and the multitude of organizations and individuals committed to the delivery of care.

• To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery by creating a national framework for health privacy protection that builds on efforts by states, health systems, and individual organizations.

Donald Martens & Sons meets or exceeds privacy requirements.