The Department of Health and Human Services announces that patient record privacy regulations have been finalized and will become fully effective in two years. These regulations "will be enforced by HHS' Office for Civil Rights, which will provide assistance to providers, plans and health clearinghouses in meeting the requirements of the regulation. There is a toll free line to help answer questions: 1-866-OCR-PRIV (1-866-627-7748).

A Web site on the new regulation will also be available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr. "

A brief summary of the regulations can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2000pres/00fsprivacy.html.