Knowing your rights as a patient is important.  Several federal acts provide rights to you and your family members.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This Act is designed to help people with disabilities live a full life and participate in society. Visit the ADA web site and the EEOC web site to understand what qualifies as a disability and as discrimination.

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
This Act protects the jobs of employees with serious health conditions and their family members by allowing them to take unpaid leave from a job for up to 12 work weeks.  Visit the U.S. Department of Labor web site for more information.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
This Act contains federally mandated protection of individuals’ health information. To learn more about this Act, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service web site.