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    • About HHS

      HHS is a U.S. executive department that touches the lives of nearly all Americans by protecting your rights, research, food safety, health care, aging, and much more.

      Explore About HHS
    • About the Department
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    • Accountability and Transparency
      • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
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    • Programs & Services

      HHS is responsible for public health, health care, and human/social services for the United States of America. This includes administering over 100 programs and services.

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    • Health Care
      • Find a Health Center
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    • Health Insurance
      • Medicare – 65+ or With Disability
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    • Social Services
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    • Public Health and Prevention
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    • Health Research and Information
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      • Clinical Research Studies
      • Volunteering to Participate in Research
    • Laws & Regulations

      HHS protects and helps you understand the laws and regulations, also known as "rules," that govern the nation. You also have the power to voice your opinion on these laws and regulations.

      Explore Laws & Regulations
    • Regulatory Information
      • What is a Rule?
      • Find Rules by Division
      • Comment on Open Rules
      • Suggest Deregulatory Actions
      • Understand Key Federal Laws
    • Civil Rights
      • Your Civil Rights
      • Civil Rights Laws Enforced by HHS
      • Health Information Privacy
      • Substance Use Disorder Patient Confidentiality
      • Conscience and Religious Freedom
    • Laws and Regulations by Topic
      • HIPAA Privacy Rule
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      • Health IT Legislation
      • Food and Drug Safety
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    • Human Research Protections
      • The Belmont Report
      • Regulations, Policy, and Guidance
      • Human Subjects Regulations (45 CFR 46)
      • Register IRBs and Obtain FWAs
      • Trainings, Tutorials, and Workshops
      • International Research
    • Complaints and Appeals
      • File a Medicare Complaint
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      • File a Civil Rights Complaint
      • Appeal an Insurance Company Decision
      • Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse to OIG
      • Report a Problem to the FDA
      • Report a Tip on the Chemical and Surgical Mutilation of Children
    • Grants & Contracts

      HHS gives the most money in grants of any federal agency in the U.S. Find out about our grants and how your organization can apply for them. We also provide information on how you can work with us and our support of small businesses.

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    • Grants
      • Get Ready for Grants Management
      • Grant Policies and Regulations
      • Research Grants and Funding from NIH
      • Search Grants.gov
      • Avoid Grant Scams
      • Contact HHS Grant Officials
    • Contracts
      • Get Ready to Do Business with HHS
      • Programs for Businesses
      • Contract Policies and Regulations
      • Search Opportunities on SAM.gov
      • Contact HHS Contracting Managers
    • Small Business
      • Contract Opportunities
      • Small Business Programs
      • Small Business Resources
      • Contact Small Business Staff
    • Radical Transparency

      HHS protects and helps you understand the laws and regulations, also known as "rules," that govern the nation. You also have the power to voice your opinion on these laws and regulations.

      Explore Radical Transparency
    • CDC’s ACIP Conflicts of Interest
    • Ending Anti-Semitism on College Campuses
    • Ending Wasteful Spending
    • Keeping Food Ingredients Safe
    • Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool
  • HIPAA for Individuals
  • Filing a Complaint
  • HIPAA for Professionals
  • Newsroom
  • Authorizations (30)
  • Business Associates (41)
  • Compliance Dates (2)
  • Covered Entities (14)
  • Decedents (9)
  • Disclosures for Law Enforcement Purposes (5)
  • Disclosures for Rule Enforcement (1)
  • Disclosures in Emergency Situations (2)
  • Disclosures Required by Law (6)
  • Disclosures to Family and Friends (28)
  • Disposal of Protected Health Information (6)
  • Facility Directories (7)
  • Family Medical History Information (3)
  • FERPA and HIPAA (10)
  • Group Health Plans (3)
  • Incidental Uses and Disclosures (10)
  • Judicial and Administrative Proceedings (8)
  • Minimum Necessary (14)
  • Notice of Privacy Practice (20)
  • Preemption of State Law (10)
  • Privacy Rule: General Topics (12)
  • Protected Health Information (2)
  • Public Health Uses and Disclosures (13)
  • Research Uses and Disclosures (20)
  • Right to an Accounting of Disclosures (8)
  • Right to File a Complaint (1)
  • Right to Request a Restriction (4)
  • Safeguards (13)
  • Security Rule (24)
  • Smaller Providers and Businesses (145)
  • Student Immunizations (8)
  • Transition Provisions (3)
  • Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations Disclosures (31)
  • Workers Compensation Disclosures (5)
  • Limited Data Set (6)
  • Marketing (17)
  • Marketing - Refill Reminders (16)
  • Personal Representatives and Minors (12)
  • Right to Access and Research (58)
  • Mental Health (34)
  • Health Information Technology (39)
  • Telehealth (11)

Encryption

Is the use of encryption mandatory in the Security Rule?

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