ABA Family Legal Guide

Health-Care Law

Patients' Rights

Confidentiality and Privacy

What do hospitals, doctors, and health plans have to do to comply with the privacy rule?

The privacy rule requires hospitals, doctors, health plans, pharmacies, clinics, and nursing homes to establish policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of protected health information about their patients. This includes having written privacy procedures in place, and educating employees about those procedures.