Enacted by Congress in 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that healthcare providers, clearinghouses and health plans, called covered entities, that conduct health-related transactions electronically to do so in a standard format recognizing that there were no laws in place governing the privacy of private health information involved in these transactions. Medical Associates has always valued and protected the confidentiality of its medical records. However, under instructions from Congress there are privacy standards as a part of HIPAA regulations. This is referred to as the privacy rule and the standards require covered entities to regularly train their employees in regard to privacy policies and procedures.

All Medical Associates and Gateway Surgery Center patients have received a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices upon their first visit since the HIPAA standards took effect or can expect to receive one during their next visit. You may print out another copy of the Medical Associates/Gateway Surgery Center Notice of Privacy Practices here, or you may read the patient privacy statement here.

For further information regarding Medical Associates Privacy Practices, please contact our Privacy Officer at (563) 243-2511.