In , the Office of General Council determined that records in compensation f. HIPAA’s Impact on VBA and pension claims folders are subject to HIPAA privacy rules. Its not conclusion is based on the fact that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) does not meet the definition of a as described in . “covered entity,” However, the HIPAA privacy rules do affect and VA Forms 21-4142 For more information on References: see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 1.C.3.b. VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a, development actions related to see VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a, Part III, Subpart iii, 1.C.3.d. The following are covered entities under HIPAA. g. Covered Entities Under HIPAA Covered Entity Definition Health Plan Provides or pays the cost of medical care. Health Care A public or private entity that translates health Clearinghouse information from one format to another. Health Care A provider of services as defined in . This includes Provider hospitals, critical access hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, and hospice programs. A provider of medical or health services as defined in . This includes physicians’ services, office-type services, and supplies furnished incident to a physician’s such as diagnostic professional service, tests, therapy, dressings, casts, durable medical equipment, ambulance service, prosthetic devices, vaccines, nurse anesthetist service, mammography, and other types of screening. This also includes anyone else who furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course of business. A Buddy statement is a statement from an individual who has information h. Requests for Buddy about the Veteran’s Statements sickness disease, or injury If the claimant identifies someone who knows about his/her disabilities
f. HIPAA’s Impact on VBA In , the Office of General Council determined that records in compensation and pension claims folders are not subject to HIPAA privacy rules. Its conclusion is based on the fact that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) does not meet the definition of a “covered entity,” as described in . However, the HIPAA privacy rules do affect VA Forms 21-4142 and References: For more information on VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iii, 1.C.3.b. development actions related to VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a, see Part III, Subpart iii, 1.C.3.d. g. Covered Entities Under HIPAA The following are covered entities under HIPAA. Covered Entity Definition Health Plan Provides or pays the cost of medical care. Health Care Clearinghouse A public or private entity that translates health information from one format to another. Health Care Provider A provider of services as defined in . This includes hospitals, critical access hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, and hospice programs. A provider of medical or health services as defined in . This includes physicians’ services, office-type services, and supplies furnished incident to a physician’s professional service, such as diagnostic tests, therapy, dressings, casts, durable medical equipment, ambulance service, prosthetic devices, vaccines, nurse anesthetist service, mammography, and other types of screening. This also includes anyone else who furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course of business. h. Requests for Buddy Statements A Buddy statement is a statement from an individual who has information about the Veteran’s sickness disease, or injury If the claimant identifies someone who knows about his/her disabilities