July 1, 2004 (Baltimore, MD) - HIPAA Resources Available

Lutheran Services in America has researched and produced reports regarding the implications of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Pastors who seek to provide care to parishioners while they are in a health care facility, those who are receiving health care services and treatment, and others have encountered new policies, procedures, and regulations that can be baffling.

The information regarding HIPAA is available in three formats. There is a question and answer format designed especially for clergy and other church professionals who provide pastoral care. There is a bulletin insert that is designed for sharing information with congregation members. And there is a brief four-page document that provides more detail on the intersections between HIPAA and pastoral care of church members. These resources are all available on the LSA website (www.lutheranservices.org). There is a link from the home page that connects to versions of the resources that can be viewed online or downloaded and printed. Hard copies of each resource can be ordered for a nominal cost from Lutheran Services in America. The four-color bulletin inserts can be ordered in bulk for congregational use. Contact Evia Cozart at ecozart@lutheranservices.org or by calling 1-800-664-3848.