2003-03-26 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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(8 ". \ CIGNA BeIuwIoral Health, Inc. recommends that dlents consult theJr own legal counsel to 14ent!fy the impacts of the lllPAA reguladons on theJr organfzatlon. FACT SHEET This is to provide you with some important information abo'gt the Bealth Insurance POrtabUity and Accountability Act (BIPAA) Privacy Rule, which is effective Aprll14, 2003. . The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires that HMOs, insurers and group health plans, including self-funded employer-sponsored plans and employer-sponsored employee assistance plans: . Establish processes to maintain the confidentiality of an individual's Protected Health Information, or PHI; . Pstablish processes ,to handle indlvidual rights concerning the use and disclosure of their PHI; and . Execute Business Associate agreements with their Business Associates, which are companies that . handle PHI while providing services on their behalf. The Business Associate agreement is designed to address how the Business Associate will handle and protect PHI. For your self-funded and/or employer-sponsored employee assistance plan, CIGNA Behavioral Health, Inc. (CBH) is your Business Associate. Impact on Self-Ponded (ASO) and Employee .Assistance (EAP) Plans How the HIPAA Privacy Rule will affect your self.funded and/or EAP plan depends, in part, on the effective date of your ASO and/or EAP contract with CBH, as outlined below: 1. Impact on plans with CBB ASO and/or EAP contracts effective before October 15, 2002 These plans are reqUired to enter into a Business Associate agreement with CBH by Apri114, 2004, or when the contract is moclified,whichever comes first.' 2. Impact on plans with eBB ASO and/or EAP contracts effective on or after October IS, 2002. These plans are r~uired to enter into a Business Associate agreement with CBH by Aprll14, 2003. The, Business Associate agreement should be executed as soon as possible. .1 ,1 ,":'1 ,] "'1 ,) " i .,</-'j ~'1 )(j ',' , 'j .1 While the terms of our Business Associate agreement are being negotiated, CBH will continue to perform the services outlined in our ASO and/or EAP agreement for your plan. In addition, except for the Privacy Notice, we will administer the HIPM-required individual rights on your behalf for your employees and their dependents. Business Associate Agreement We have enclosed a Business Associate agreement, in the form of an addendum to our ASO and/or ~ agreement, for your use. In addition to the required Business Associ~te provisions, the agreement also includes provisions that outline the way we will handJ,e the HIPM-required individual rights on your . behalf. We encourage you to talk to your CBH Account Manager about executing this contract addendum as soon as possible. We've also enclosed a document with answers to some questions you may have about HIPAA Privacy. If you have additional questions, please contact your CBH Account Manager. Enclosures "1 ASO/EAP None03/02/23 ,;I