Would anyone know if there is a requirement as to the type of mailing that must be used? I thought I had read that it must be first class mail only.
Your help is greatly appreciated. Darlene Campbell SAMBA Insurance [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Sherry Neuman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 1:29 PM To: WEDI SNIP Privacy Workgroup List Subject: RE: NPP type size? This question was asked recently, and the answer was that in California the type size must be 12 pt. Also: >From the final Privacy Regulation Preamble: "Plain Language As in the proposed rule, we require the notice to be written in plain language. A covered entity can satisfy the plain language requirement if it makes a reasonable effort to: organize material to serve the needs of the reader; write short sentences in the active voice, using ``you'' and other pronouns; use common, everyday words in sentences; and divide material into short sections. [[Page 82549]] We do not require particular formatting specifications, such as easy-to-read design features (e.g., lists, tables, graphics, contrasting colors, and white space), TYPE FACE, AND FONT SIZE. However, the purpose of the notice is to inform the recipients about their rights and how protected health information collected about them may be used or disclosed. Recipients who cannot understand the covered entity's notice will miss important information about their rights under this rule and about how the covered entity is protecting health information about them. One of the goals of this rule is to create an environment of open communication and transparency with respect to the use and disclosure of protected health information. A lack of clarity in the notice could undermine this goal and create misunderstandings. Covered entities have an incentive to make their notice statements clear and concise. We believe that the more understandable the notice is, the more confidence the public will have in the covered entity's commitment to protecting the privacy of health information...." and "Comment: We received many comments on the model notice provided in the proposed rule....A few commenters recommended specific formatting requirements, such as FONT SIZE OR TYPE. Response: On the whole, we found commenters' arguments for flexibility in the regulation more persuasive than those arguing for more standardization. We agree that a uniform notice would not capture the wide variation in information practices across covered entities. We therefore do not include a model notice in the final rule, and do not require inclusion of specific language in the notice (except for a standard header). We also do not require particular formatting. We do, however, require the notice to be written in plain language. (See above for guidance on writing documents in plain language.) We also agree with commenters that the notice should contain a standard header to draw the individual's attention to the notice and facilitate the individual's ability to recognize the notice across covered entities...." (emphases added) -----Original Message----- From: Musser, Marilyn J [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 10:16 AM To: Sherry Neuman; WEDI SNIP Privacy Workgroup List Subject: RE: NPP type size? Hi- the body type for our NOPP is 10 pt - see it on our web site: http://www.wellmark.com/e_business/pdf/T-2601.pdf Marilyn Musser Provider Relations Manager HIPAA-AS Communications Office Wellmark, Inc. phone: 515.248.5588 fax: 515.245.4620 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Sherry Neuman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 10:55 AM To: WEDI SNIP Privacy Workgroup List Subject: RE: NPP type size? Please reply to all. -----Original Message----- From: Beth Cole [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 7:23 AM To: WEDI SNIP Privacy Workgroup List Subject: NPP type size? I've seen several references on various mailing lists to something said at one of the OCR regional conferences regarding the mandated font size of the NPP. What I'm seeing indicates that attendees at the conference were told that in order to comply with other Medicare regulations, the type size had to be no less than 12 point. If we take it to 12 point, our NPP is at 8 pages. If we put it at either 9 or 10 point, it's a 4. So, this is slightly worrisome to us. Can anyone give me a black-letter law or regulation citation on this, or was this someone talking at a conference who didn't know what he was talking about? Thanks! Beth -- Beth Cole Information Services Support Specialist Newman Regional Health Emporia, Kansas --- The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/. These listservs should not be used for commercial marketing purposes or discussion of specific vendor products and services. They also are not intended to be used as a forum for personal disagreements or unprofessional communication at any time. You are currently subscribed to wedi-privacy as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this list, go to the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org or send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you need to unsubscribe but your current email address is not the same as the address subscribed to the list, please use the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org --- The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/. These listservs should not be used for commercial marketing purposes or discussion of specific vendor products and services. They also are not intended to be used as a forum for personal disagreements or unprofessional communication at any time. You are currently subscribed to wedi-privacy as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this list, go to the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org or send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you need to unsubscribe but your current email address is not the same as the address subscribed to the list, please use the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org --- The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/. These listservs should not be used for commercial marketing purposes or discussion of specific vendor products and services. They also are not intended to be used as a forum for personal disagreements or unprofessional communication at any time. You are currently subscribed to wedi-privacy as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this list, go to the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org or send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you need to unsubscribe but your current email address is not the same as the address subscribed to the list, please use the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org --- The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/. These listservs should not be used for commercial marketing purposes or discussion of specific vendor products and services. They also are not intended to be used as a forum for personal disagreements or unprofessional communication at any time. You are currently subscribed to wedi-privacy as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this list, go to the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org or send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you need to unsubscribe but your current email address is not the same as the address subscribed to the list, please use the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at http://subscribe.wedi.org
