Here is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It was written specifically to ensure that persons had a right to keep their health insurance and to provide some privacy to live people. It originally had nothing to do with the dead. I am also sending a couple more links to the Administrative Simplification (Doublespeak if I ever heard it!) and more on the privacy provisions. Click here: P.L. 104-191 http://aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp/pl104191.htm#1177 --------------------------------------------- http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/whatsnew.html --------------------------------------------- http://www.hcfa.gov/facts/f9702as.htm --------------------------------------------- -- Frederick M. Dittmar Diggin' Deep Genealogy Research Service Box 2601 - Norman, Oklahoma 73070-2601 http://www.dittmar.net/fred Member: Association of Professional Genealogists Mail List Administrator: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Board Member & Genealogical Assistant Oklahoma Genealogical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~okgs