With the caveat that HIPAA compliance depends in part of the behavior of the people on each end of the conversation, the short answer is yes. While the HIPAA security rule considers encryption "addressable" rather than required, in practice the minimum security for communication channels between doctors and users is some form of encryption to protect the conversation from eavesdroppers. According to Skype's website, IP communications use encryption for voice, video, and instant messaging; the potential for voice communications "in the clear" exists when a Skype user engages in conversation with someone who is on a landline or a cell phone, Skype cannot ensure end-to-end encryption.

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