Privacy Officer (Health Care) Law and Legal Definition
Privacy officer means a person designated by an organization that routinely handles protected health information, to develop, implement, and oversee the organization's compliance with the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules. Since a privacy officer acts as the point of contact for all patient privacy issues, s/he is also called as the entity's Contact Person.
Privacy officers ensure privacy of private healthcare information among the beneficiary and their providers, and protect such private health information from unauthorized access. They also oversee all activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance, and adherence to the covered entity’s policies and procedures. Privacy officers allow access to patient health information only in compliance with federal and state laws and the healthcare organization’s information privacy practices.
