Below is a report from Amateur Radio Newsline.


This report deals with the new HIPPA law and how it apparently relates to
organizations such as Handi Hams who serve people with disabilities.


FEDERAL LAW VS. HAM RADIO:  THE CONFUSION OVER HIPPA

A new federal healthier law with the acronym HIPPA is affecting Amateur
Radio.  Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, takes a look at the recent implementation of
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and its impact on
the hobby.

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If you are a ham with a disability and are a member of a group any other
organization that has knowledge of your problem, then listen up.  In order
to continue receiving most benefits from such a group you are now required
under Federal law to fill out and return the new Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act privacy guidelines forms that you may
have already received or will received from each group.

Its the Federal government that requires the paperwork, and signing it will
allow groups that must disclose disability information in the course of
routine business to continue to serve you.  For hams with disabilities it
means that groups like the Handi Hams can continue to provided direct
assistance with license renewal or license changes, publish news of
individual license upgrades, and even send a birthday greeting by the ham
radio's National Traffic System.

What about individuals who do not sign the forms?  They will still be able
to receive some services offered by these groups, but limited to those
which do not involve releasing information about their physical
condition.  However, in the case of the Handi Hams, a disabled ham  could
no longer be connected with the groups assistance community of other
members and volunteers because of the new federal privacy regulations.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

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Full information on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
is on-line at
http://aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp/
(Tnx HandiHams, others)


Mike Duke, K5XU
American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs