Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act will protect patient healthcare information

By Doris Neibart, Chief Executive Officer New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed into law December 1996 but will become effective April 2003. This federal act protects confidential health information involving each area in the three New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes.

The act mandates a complete revamping of procedures guided by the writing of policies, designation of project managers, privacy officers, and constant training of staff.

Meredith Spano, assistant CEO, and Doris Neibart, CEO, both of the Veterans Home in Paramus, were assigned the duty of coordination, organizing and producing a system for the three New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes in order to initially get this massive program started.

Each home has been assigned responsibilities in writing policies based on requirements being approved by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The project is currently in its final stages of development. Each home will institute the changes independently.