GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION This is a beginning-intermediate level course introducing therapists to the complexities and applications of the 2003 HIPAA regulations. The course will explain HIPAA-related terms, such as Covered Entity, Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Psychotherapy Notes, Consent, Authorization, and many other terms and rulings. The course will help psychotherapists to achieve compliance with HIPAA and will point out how to deal with issues arising when states' laws and HIPAA regulations overlap. A state-by-state preemption analysis will not be given. However, a summary preemption analysis of California law and HIPAA will be provided. Additionally, the course will provide therapists with some of the basic forms that they can adapt to their practices in order to comply with regulations. This course fulfills the California Ethics and Law requirement for Psychologists by the BOP and for MFTs and LCSWs by BBS.