In compliance with Section 263, Subtitle F of Public Law 104-191, I am pleased to transmit the Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Administrative Simplification Provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act . Within 24 months of their adoption, i.e. by mid-2000, the standards would be required for use by health plans, providers and clearinghouses. Small plans would have another 12 months to comply.
Privacy protections play a prominent role in the law as well.
The law requires the Secretary to submit detailed recommendations for Federal health information privacy legislation to the Congress. Secretary Shalala forwarded these recommendations to the Congress on September 11, 1997. In addition, the statute gives expanded responsibilities to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, including advising the Secretary on health information privacy and on the adoption of health data standards. The Committee is further directed to submit an annual report to Congress on the status of implementation of the Administrative Simplification effort. The first of the annual reports is enclosed.