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KMA Develops HIPAA Guidelines for Sports Physicals and Team Physicians The Committee on Physical Education and Medical Aspects of Sports gratefully acknowledges the many years of excellent service provided by volunteer team physicians and strongly urges physicians to continue this remarkable ethic of service. For physicians serving public school athletes, HIPAA brings little change to traditional practice. Physicians serving private/parochial schools will have to comply with HIPAA rules. Generally, HIPAA rules do not apply to students in public schools. Public schools are defined as those which receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education or other federal sources as detailed in, and classified by, the guidelines of the Kentucky Department of Education. HIPAA rules do apply to private or parochial schools that don't receive federal funds. (Some private/parochial schools do receive federal funds.) The management of "protected health information" in public schools is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which supercedes HIPAA in the context of school sports medical activities. For team physicians, this exemption is narrowly interpreted as being restricted to practice and competition settings. Medical services provided to any student in an office, clinic or licensed medical facility are subject to HIPAA rules. KMA's Committee on Physical Education and Medical Aspects of Sports has developed compliance guidelines for physicians who perform preparticipation sports physical examinations, and who serve as team physicians to schools that have competitive sports programs. An optional form that can be used by volunteer physicians in public schools is also available. This form helps confirm that physicians are exempt from HIPAA. For more information contact KMA. |
