In a private agency that does not receive federal funds, which regulation must you still follow as a health care provider?

In a private agency that does not receive federal funds, the regulation that must still be followed is HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA applies to covered entities, including healthcare providers, who electronically transmit any health information in connection with a HIPAA transaction. This means that even if an agency does not receive federal funding, if they are a healthcare provider dealing with protected health information (PHI), they are required to comply with HIPAA regulations.

HIPAA establishes standards for the protection of PHI, ensuring patient confidentiality and security of health information. Compliance is essential regardless of the agency's funding status, as it is aimed at protecting the privacy rights of individuals concerning their health information.

In contrast, FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is primarily concerned with the confidentiality of educational records and applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive federal funding. Since the question specifies a private agency that does not receive federal funds, FERPA would not be applicable in this context. Therefore, adherence to HIPAA is the correct regulatory obligation for healthcare providers in such circumstances.