The privacy rule compliance deadline for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is April 14. HIPAA's intent is to streamline the health-care system by creating uniform standards for submitting electronic health-care claims. HIPAA's privacy rule attempts to increase protection for patients through a set of procedural requirements. And beginning April 14, "covered entities," including psychologists, other health-care providers, insurers and health-care companies, must comply with these requirements. (See the series of HIPAA articles in the January, February and March Monitors.)

For more information about HIPAA or to purchase "HIPAA for Psychologists," go to www.APAPractice.org.

--J. DAW HOLLOWAY