What regulation must SLPA comply with when managing patient information?

In the context of managing patient information, the most pertinent regulation is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This legislation establishes national standards for the protection of health information, ensuring that patient data is kept confidential and secure. It governs how healthcare providers, including Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs), manage and share patient information, emphasizing the importance of patient privacy.

While the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) plays a role in protecting the privacy of student education records, it is specifically relevant to educational settings and institutions. In cases where SLPAs are working in schools, they must adhere to FERPA for education-related data, but HIPAA would generally take precedence for health-related information.

Regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) pertain primarily to workplace safety and health standards, which do not directly address patient information management.

In summary, while both HIPAA and FERPA are important, and there may be scenarios where both laws apply, HIPAA fundamentally governs the handling of patient health information for SLPAs. Therefore, in the context of managing patient information, primarily HIPAA is the regulation that SLPAs must comply with.