The new federal guidelines that further protect the privacy of medical information are part of the comprehensive Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. These rules, which became effective in April of 2003, give patients more control over and knowledge about who is using their medical information and for what purpose.

CBC has always considered patients' privacy a paramount priority; however, HIPAA has set broader standards and has applied them to hospitals, health-care providers, and insurers nationwide.

Patients at CBC will receive, in person or by mail, a copy of our privacy notice. It describes how medical information about a patient may be used, and how one may access this information.