On what date did full compliance with HIPAA for all Covered Entities (except small health plans) begin?

Full compliance with HIPAA regulations for all Covered Entities, with the exception of small health plans, began on April 14, 2003. This date marks the implementation of the Privacy Rule, which established national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information. By this date, Covered Entities were required to comply with the standards regarding privacy, permitting individuals to have greater control over their health information.

The Privacy Rule's provisions stipulate how healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses handle patient information, thereby providing essential protections for individuals' privacy and confidentiality. This compliance deadline was critical in ensuring that healthcare entities adhered to the new privacy standards and that patients could trust that their sensitive health data would be managed correctly and securely.

Other dates provided in the question do not align with the implementation of full compliance concerning the Privacy Rule. Understanding the correct timeline is vital for anyone involved in healthcare management, including cancer registries, as it relates to how patient data must be handled according to established privacy standards.