The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is establishing a new system of records called the Community Care Provider Profile Management System (PPMS), as required by the Privacy Act of 1974. This system will maintain records of non-VA health care providers participating in VA community care programs. The information stored in this system includes providers' personal and professional details, such as name, contact information, and identification numbers. The VA outlines several routine uses for this information, primarily involving disclosure to appropriate agencies for purposes like verifying provider credentials or responding to legal requests, all while ensuring compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA.
Simple Explanation
The Department of Veterans Affairs is making a new system to keep track of doctors who help their patients, and they promise to keep the information safe and share it only when really needed.