About Us

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces federal civil rights laws, conscience and religious freedom laws, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and the Patient Safety Act and Rule, which together protect your fundamental rights of nondiscrimination, conscience, religious freedom, and health information privacy. OCR protects your rights by:

• Teaching health and social service workers about civil rights laws, conscience and religious freedom laws, health information privacy, and patient safety confidentiality laws.
• Educating communities about civil rights, conscience and religious freedom rights, and health information privacy rights.
• Investigating civil rights, conscience and religious freedom, health information privacy, and patient safety confidentiality complaints to identify discrimination or violation of the law and taking action to correct problems.