Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
The main provisions of HIPAA, effective July 1, 1997:
- Prohibits denial of insurance because of pre-existing medical and genetic conditions
- Requires insurance companies to offer policies to small businesses and employers
- Guarantees insurance policy renewal, providing continuous premiums and coverage
- Provides for continuity and portability of health insurance coverage for persons changing employment
However, even with HIPAA provisions, there are large gaps in coverage for many people:
- Only persons currently enrolled in health plans as of July 1, 1997 are covered by HIPAA provisions
- People receiving health care policies as a result of employment in large, multi-state, self-insured insurance companies are not protected by these provisions
- Because there are no caps on premiums, a person can effectively be denied coverage because of inability to pay increased rates
Visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp/final/PvcPre01.htm
The Genetic Technologies Project
Visit www.ncsl.org/programs/health/genetics.htm
A Bibliography of 4,650 publications from Jan, 1989 to Nov, 1998
Visit www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/hum_exp.html
NIH Bioethics Resources on the Web
Visit www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics/
ELSI Research and Resources
HGPI's site for the joint NIH and DOE ELSI program
Visit http://www.genome.gov/10000478
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) : ELSI
Visit http://www.genome.gov/ELSI/
