You may or may not know about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA. If you’ve received medical services in the U.S., it’s important to learn about the facts of the Act and how it affects you. MediCenter, a family medicine clinic in Kenai, AK, believes that their patients should be educated so they can maintain control of their rights.

Passed by Congress in 1996, HIPAA covers how your medical information may be disclosed or distributed. It also gives you the right to access this vital information. Some of the people or groups your information may be disclosed to are:

• Medical Professionals
• Law Enforcement
• Public Health Agencies
• Insurance Or Credit Card Companies

Under federal privacy standards, you still have the right to request a restriction on the disclosure of this information, receive confidential medical information, amend or submit corrections to your health information, amongst other rights.

If you feel your rights have been violated, the caring staff at MediCenter wants to help. The trusted family medicine clinic encourages its patients to file complaints with their Privacy Officer with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. They want all their patients to feel safe and comfortable, including creating a caring environment where patients can express any potential concerns.

The family doctors at MediCenter stress this high standard of doctor-patient communication in all arenas. From pain management to urgent care, their expert, caring staff will take care of you. Take control of your health by visiting Kenai’s best family medicine clinic. Call them at (907) 283-9118 to schedule an appointment or visit their website to see a list of their services and providers.