HIPAA Privacy Rule (for Professionals)
ARCHIVED 2024-08-09, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20240809_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20240702_rev01
Full text changes — 20240702_rev01 to 20240809_rev01
COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED
| 1 | The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other individually identifiable health information (collectively defined as "protected health information") and applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically. The Rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without an individual's authorization. The Rule also gives individuals rights over their protected health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, to direct a covered entity to transmit to a third party an electronic copy of their protected health information in an electronic health record, and to request corrections. | |
| 1 | ## Disclaimer Policy: Links with this icon () mean that you are leaving the HHS website. | |
| 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | The Privacy Rule is located at 45 CFR [Part 160](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-160) and Subparts A and E of [Part 164](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164). | |
| 3 | - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot guarantee the accuracy of a non-federal website. | |
| 4 | - Linking to a non-federal website does not mean that HHS or its employees endorse the sponsors, information, or products presented on the website. HHS links outside of itself to provide you with further information. | |
| 5 | - You will be bound by the destination website's privacy policy and/or terms of service when you follow the link. | |
| 6 | - HHS is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on private websites. | |
| 4 | 7 | |
| 5 | [Click here to view the combined regulation text](https://hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/combined-regulation-text/index.html) of all HIPAA Administrative Simplification Regulations found at 45 CFR 160, 162, and 164. | |
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ## Privacy Rule History | |
| 8 | ||
| 9 | - April 26, 2024 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy - Final Rule](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/17/2023-07517/hipaa-privacy-rule-to-support-reproductive-health-care-privacy) | |
| 10 | - April 17, 2023 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy - Proposed Rule](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/17/2023-07517/hipaa-privacy-rule-to-support-reproductive-health-care-privacy) | |
| 11 | - March 10, 2021 - [Extension of Comment Period for Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated Care and Individual Engagement - Proposed Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-03-10/pdf/2021-05021.pdf) | |
| 12 | - January 21, 2021 - [Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Empower Patients, Improve Coordinated Care, and Reduce Regulatory Burdens - Proposed Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-21/pdf/2020-27157.pdf) | |
| 13 | - December 14, 2018 - [Modifying the HIPAA Rules to Improve Coordinated Care - Request for Information](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-14/pdf/2018-27162.pdf) | |
| 14 | - January 6, 2016 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) - Final Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-01-06/pdf/2015-33181.pdf) | |
| 15 | - February 6, 2014 - [Patients' Access to Test Reports Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Program - Final Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-02-06/pdf/2014-02280.pdf) | |
| 16 | - January 7, 2014 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule and NICS - Proposed Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-01-07/pdf/2014-00055.pdf) | |
| 17 | - April 23, 2013 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule and NICS - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-04-23/pdf/2013-09602.pdf) | |
| 18 | - January 25, 2013 - [Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Enforcement, and Breach Notification Rules under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and Other Modifications - Final Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-01-25/pdf/2013-01073.pdf) (The "Omnibus HIPAA Final Rule") | |
| 19 | - September 14, 2011 - [Patients' Access to Test Reports Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and CLIA Program - Proposed Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-09-14/pdf/2011-23525.pdf) | |
| 20 | - May 31, 2011 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule Accounting of Disclosures Under the HITECH Act - Proposed Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-05-31/pdf/2011-13297.pdf) | |
| 21 | - July 14, 2010 - [Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement Rules under the HITECH Act - Proposed Rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-07-14/pdf/2010-16718.pdf) | |
| 22 | - May 3, 2010 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule Accounting of Disclosures Under the HITECH Act - Request for Information](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-05-03/pdf/2010-10054.pdf) | |
| 23 | - October 7, 2009 - [HIPAA Privacy Rule; Modifications Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act - Proposed Rule](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/genetic/ginanprm.pdf) | |
| 24 | - August 14, 2002 - [Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule - Final Rule](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/privruletxt.txt) ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/privrulepd.pdf)) | |
| 25 | - March 27, 2002 - [Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule - Proposed Rule](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/propmods.txt) ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/2002proposedmods.pdf)) | |
| 26 | - February 28, 2001 - [Request for Comments on December 28, 2000, Final HIPAA Privacy Rule](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/comment.txt) ([PDF](https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2001-02-28/pdf/01-4811.pdf)) | |
| 27 | - February 26, 2001 - [Correction of Effective and Compliance Dates of the Final HIPAA Privacy Rule](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/dates.txt) ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/dates.pdf)) | |
| 28 | - December 29, 2000 - [Technical Corrections to the Final HIPAA Privacy Rule](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/pvcfix01.txt) ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/pvcfix01.pdf)) | |
| 29 | - December 28, 2000 - HIPAA Privacy Rule - Final Rule ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/prdecember2000all8parts.pdf)) | |
| 30 | - November 3, 1999 - HIPAA Privacy Rule - Proposed Rule ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/1999nprm.pdf)) | |
| 31 | ||
| 32 | ## Other Privacy Rule Notices | |
| 33 | ||
| 34 | - March 20, 2003 - Notice of Addresses for Submission of HIPAA Health Information Privacy Complaints ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/noticeaddresssubmission.pdf)) | |
| 35 | - March 11, 2003 - [Notice of Address for Submission of Requests for Preemption Exception Determinations](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/notice.txt) ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/notice.pdf)) | |
| 36 | - December 28, 2000 - [Statement of Delegation of Authority to the Office for Civil Rights](https://hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/delegation-of-authority/index.html) ([PDF](https://hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule/fedreg.pdf)) | |
| 8 | For more information on HHS's web notification policies, see [Website Disclaimers](https://hhs.gov/disclaimer.html). |