# HIPPAA and Background Checks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hippaa-and-background-checks/733356>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 3, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hippaa-and-background-checks/733356 "2015-10-03T13:04:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hippaa-and-background-checks/733356/1 "2015-10-03T13:04:23Z")

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I’ve often heard that HIPPAA regulations create problems when it comes to backgrounds checks associated with firearm purchases. How much of a stumbling block is HIPPAA?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hippaa-and-background-checks/733356/2 "2015-10-03T17:10:32Z")

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[ul]  
[li][HIPAA Privacy Rule and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)](http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/NICS/)[/li][li] [Obama administration takes additional steps to strengthen the federal background check system](http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2014pres/01/20140103a.html)[/li][/ul]