• Rules for HIPAA Bill CollectionPaying Bills image by ne_fall_photos from Fotolia.com
  
  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996 by Congress. Its intention is to make sure rules are in place to protect confidential information that patients may be required to submit to health authorities. This is crucial is when health information stored in the form of electronic files as these files can also become accessible to insurance sellers. The final task of formulating policies was passed on to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which made the laws that came into effect from April 2004. Among other things, this act make privacy rules for those collecting medical bills or debts.
  
  

Right to Collect OVerdue Bills

• While maintaining personal and secretive medical information is paramount under HIPAA, the legislation also gives doctors the right to collect medical bills that are overdue. When the doctor or healthcare agency where the patient has undergone treatment is unable to get the bills settled by the patient, they can provide information about the patient to the collecting agency. The nature of the information can't include intimate details about the medical condition of the patient and must include just as much information as necessary to enable the collection agency to collect the money due. The patient's consent is not required for the healthcare agency or doctor to give information to the collection agency.
  
  

Permitted Information

• HIPAA allows the doctor or healthcare agency to also share only certain types of information about the patient to a credit bureau. The doctor can share the patient's age, address and date of birth, social security number, account number, credit history, and the name and address of the person claiming the debt. This becomes necessary if both the patient and the insurer are unable to pay medical bills. The nonpayment appears on the patient's credit report.
  
  

Accessing Information

• HIPAA states that if a patient has unpaid medical bills, the healthcare provider as well as the debt collector can access information about the patient's credit rating and credit score. This enables these agencies to look at potentially untapped sources of income that can be used to cover medical bills. This option is also available so the doctor can see if the patient has claimed discounted or free medical services, and whether he is eligible for it.