Fairfax County understands your health privacy is important and we are committed to implementing the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, 43 USC 201, et seq. and 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164). If the covered health care components of Fairfax County have not maintained your health information in a confidential manner consistent with the requirements of HIPAA, we want you to notify us. You may use the feedback form to submit your complaint. We will review your feedback in order to consider remediation and to better protect your rights to patient confidentiality.

Federal Regulations require that every covered entity must have an internal process for receiving and evaluating complaints of HIPAA violations. Typically, such complaints will be the responsibility of the privacy office/officer designated by the organization. Fairfax County's HIPAA Compliance Manager will review all complaints submitted in writing or by the electronic feedback form.

Fairfax County's HIPAA feedback form is an always-open "hotline" that facilitates the reporting of possible violations. In accordance with HIPAA and County policy, Fairfax County may not intimidate, threaten, coerce, discriminate against, or take other retaliatory action against an individual who has filed a complaint or participated in the investigation of a complaint.

In addition, a covered entity may not require individuals to waive their rights to file a complaint as a condition of the provision of treatment, payment, enrollment in a health plan or eligibility for benefits.

Individuals who believe that a covered entity is not complying with HIPAA requirements also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Currently the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within DHHS has been designated to receive such complaints. Complaints involving covered entities in Virginia may be submitted to:

For additional information related to HIPAA, please reference:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/hpa-home.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/other/m2e411.pdf