HIPAA

Help family caregivers better manage transitions in care with these guides. Available in English and Spanish, they help determine what issues to consider, how to seek assistance, how to manage medications, and how to better communicate with physicians and other health care professionals. The site, developed by United Hospital Fund, has resources for professionals as well.

A key component of consumer-direction includes methods to ensure that essential supports are provided. This State Policy in Practice technical assistance document offers a practical example from the State of South Carolina. Care Call is a system developed to help South Carolina monitor service delivery provided though South Carolina Choice, an Independence Plus waiver that enables self-direction, and its other traditional home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs.

This document describes IDA, a proposed generic, virtual information service, supporting both operational (e.g., client service) and analytical needs for integrated data. In IDA, source data would stay with the agency that owns it and be made available to an end-user only when permitted by the owning agency. IDA responds to many of the persistent barriers to data integration that confront the State.

The US Government Accountability Office examined the challenges faced by entities impacted by the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 including the experience of providers & health plans in implementation, the experience of public health entities, researchers, & representatives of patients in obtaining access to health information, & the extent to which patients appear to be aware of their rights. The report reviews why the GAO started the study, findings & recommendations.

In light of HIPAA, Aging and Disability Resource Centers face an important challenge. Since an ADRC is designed to be a one-stop shop for consumers for long-term care information, assistance and access to services, it may be subject to HIPAA’s requirements. This Issue Brief, prepared by the National Association of State Units on Aging, reviews the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA and highlights potential implications for ADRCs.

In this letter, CMS outlines several methods by which states may facilitate the transition of individuals from institutional to community settings through Medicaid coverage of medical equipment (ME) costs. This letter also serves to reiterate the July 25, 2000, State Medicaid Directors’ letter on this issue and to encourage states to explore this opportunity for persons with disabilities.

This website provides information for the consumer interested in applying for Medicaid coverage.

The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy works in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to assist in providing quality medical care for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and limited resources. Services are provided through a combination of traditional fee-for-service provider networks and managed care.