From Gary... That which cannot be put into words...

Since there may be some of you out there who do not know what HIPAA is...

http://whatishipaa.org/

What is HIPAA? In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or the HIPAA was endorsed by the U.S. Congress. The HIPAA Privacy Rule, also called the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, provided the first nationally-recognizable regulations for the use/disclosure of an individual's health information. Essentially, the Privacy Rule defines how covered entities use individually-identifiable health information or the PHI (Personal Health Information). 'Covered entities' is a term often used in HIPAA-compliant guidelines. This definition of a covered entity is specified by [45 CFR § 160.102] of the Privacy Rule. A covered entity can be a:

Health plan

Healthcare clearinghouse

Healthcare provider

Overview of the Privacy Rule

Gives patients control over the use of their health information

Defines boundaries for the use/disclosure of health records by covered entities

Establishes national-level standards that healthcare providers must comply with

Helps to limit the use of PHI and minimizes chances of its inappropriate disclosure

Strictly investigates compliance-related issues and holds violators accountable with civil or criminal penalties for violating the privacy of an individual's PHI

Supports the cause of disclosing PHI without individual consent for individual healthcare needs, public benefit and national interests

Now that I have probably spoiled the joke for many of you, I will continue.  The thing is... This furry guy is telling you a joke that he can't tell you. Well, that is our government for you- saying much but explaining very little!!! But wait, didn't Jesus do the same thing? You bet...

Matthew, Chapter 13 (WEB)

 10  The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 

  11  He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.   12  For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.   13  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.   14  In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, 
‘By hearing you will hear, 
and will in no way understand; 
Seeing you will see, 
and will in no way perceive: 
  15  for this people’s heart has grown callous, 
their ears are dull of hearing, 
they have closed their eyes; 
or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, 
hear with their ears, 
understand with their heart, 
and should turn again; 
and I would heal them.’ 

Truthfully, much of what Jesus taught was aimed at the heart and not the head. Parables have a way of reaching right into the heart of a spiritual person and teaching heavenly concepts. While it is true that the twelve did not always understand Jesus, they could be taught because of their willingness to learn. I guess all that remains to be said is: Gary, are you still willing to learn? And if I can ask this question of myself, hopefully you can do the same.