The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act of 1996 came into affect in April 2003. This law states that all agencies and organizations that provide medical care must comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. The HIPAA law states that all patient information gathered during and retained after medical care is provided is considered confidential. It also states that this confidential information cannot be shared with individuals who were not directly involved in providing patient care.

The Nome City Council has past a policy approving and adopting a HIPAA policy. The HIPAA policy indicates that both the Nome Volunteer Ambulance Department and Nome Volunteer Fire Department are compliant with the HIPAA law. All volunteers directly involved with providing patient care have signed a confidentiality statement insuring patient confidentiality.

In addition to the HIPAA policy the City of Nome and Norton Sound Health Corporation have both signed a HIPAA Business Associates contract insuring that patient information is shared only with medical staff and volunteers of either department directly involved with patient care and that both entities have access to any "Data Sets" or files created when a patient is transported to the Hospital for care.

If you have been transported to Norton Sound Health Corporation after April 14th, 2003 you have been sent a "Notice of Privacy Practices". The "Notice of Privacy Practices" identifies how confidential patient information is used and disclosed. You may now access the "Notice of Privacy Practices" by clicking the following link. Notice of Privacy Practices (pdf)

If you have any questions regarding HIPAA you may contact the City of Nome Emergency Services Administrator via phone at 907-443-7824 or email at: pubsafe@ci.nome.ak.us. All inquiries are kept confidential.