Position Statement

This insurer, as an affiliate and in conjunction with Geisinger Health System ("Geisinger"), is conducting aggressive efforts to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") and its accompanying regulations. Since January 2000, Geisinger has dedicated resources and personnel to ensure that the organization meets all applicable compliance deadlines. Workgroups have developed and are maintaining policies and procedures to ensure compliance in the following major areas: Transaction and Code Sets, Privacy, Security, and National Identifiers. Additionally, all business operations and practices are being reviewed in light of HIPAA requirements.

Other efforts of interest to our business associates and trading partners include:

• Privacy Officer has been named
  
  
• Participation in seminars, conferences and meetings with trade associations such as WEDI SNIP (Workgroup for EDI Strategic National Implementation Plan), AFEHCT (Association For Electronic Health Care Transactions), AAHP (American Association of Health Plans) and MCAP (Managed Care Association of Pennsylvania)
  
  
• Subscriptions to and participation in various HIPAA listserves
  
  
• Holding regular meetings with vendors
  
  
• Participation in HIPAA Webinars and audiocasts
  
  
• HIPAA training for employees has been completed with additional training scheduled as needed.
  
  
• Privacy notices have been mailed to subscribers and employers. Notices have also been posted prominently on the Plan's web site.
  
  

Dev. 11/6/01
Rev. 3/7/06 - RL