HIPAA hoopla: privacy and security of identifiable health information

The privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are changing the standards for how identifiable health information is handled. This article explains HIPAA and how it interacts with the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act. The advent of HIPAA and the attention given to privacy and security of identifiable health information provides the opportunity for school nurses, school districts, and administrators to revisit and update how they handle student health information. Resources to assist in establishing policies, procedures, and practices that protect student and family health information are identified.