HIPAA Essay

US Congress created the Hipaa bill in 1996 because of public concern of how their private information was being used. It is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which Congress created to protect confidentiality, privacy and security of patient information. It was also for health care documents to be passed electronically. Hipaa is a privacy rule, which gives patients control over their health information. Patients have to give permission any healthcare provider can disclose any information placed in the individual’s medical records. It helps limit protected health information (PHI) to minimize the chance of inappropriate disclosure. It establishes national-level standards that healthcare providers must comply with and strictly investigates compliance related issues while holding violators to civil or criminal penalties if they violate the privacy of a person’s PHI. Hipaa also has boundaries for using and disclosing health records by covered entities; a healthcare provider, health plan, and healthcare clearinghouse. It also supports the cause of disclosing PHI without a person’s consent for individual healthcare needs, public benefit and national interests. The portability part of Hipaa guarantees patients health insurance to employees after losing a job, making sure health insurance providers can’t discriminate against people because of health status or pre-existing condition, and keeps their files safe while being sent electronically. The Privacy

Patients are also entitled to receive notice on how their health information is shared by health care covered entities, and are entitled to request a report once a year, free of charge, detailing who has received copies of their health information. Another aspect of the privacy rules provides patients with the right to choose who may receive health care information. Patients should be aware, however, that the provider does not have to agree to abide by their requests. Patients may determine whether or not their private health information may be shared with family members or others. Patients may also choose where they receive their health information. They could choose to receive their information via telephone, cell phone, e-mail, or any other reasonable means of contact. HIPAA also requires that covered entities provide their policies to patients that include information on how a patient might be able to file a complaint with either the covered entity or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was established in 1996. This Act was put into place in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system. The HIPAA law includes a Privacy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a set of national standards created for the protection of health information; it is also known as a “Privacy Rule”. This rule was employed in 1996 by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to address the use and disclosure of an individual’s health information as well as the standards for the individual’s privacy rights to understand and control the manner in which their information is used.

The protected health information (PHI) that does not require consent from the patient, but still keeping information safe with the HIPPA law is information that has been de-identified. De-identified health information is information that has been stripped of all a patient’s personal data. There are eighteen elements that are removed before any information can be requested. The information that is stripped or made de-identified are: names, all geographical subdivisions smaller than a state, all elements dates (except year), telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, medical record numbers, health plan beneficiary numbers, account numbers, vehicle identifiers including license plate numbers,

This rule applies to medical care providers, business associates and entities that utilize this information in treatment or payment for services. Saving information covers standard personal identifying information and this also covers treatments, whether previous, current or future treatments planned. Accessing PHI pertains to only the personnel with a need to utilize this information for either scheduling or treatment are allowed access to this information. Sharing of information is utilized when there is a need for payment or possibly a referral for additional

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA, became an act in 1996 by the United States. The act specifies guidelines for the protection and circulation of individually healthcare information. It establishes regulated procedures for electronic data interchange, security, and confidentiality of all healthcare-related data. It is designed to protect individuals from an improper distribution of medical information. The act states what can and cannot be shared without permission and what individual medical records can be accessed by the individual. The act specifies possibilities for reparation and penalties for those who violate the act. HIPAA lessens uncertainty as to what is and what is not a privilege when obtaining individual information. The HIPAA privacy rule applies to all written, oral, or electronic patient information. The security rule covers electronic security and requirements for those receiving protected information. This also helps prevent breaches of information. When individual patients want to access their own medical records and insert corrections if needed, they rely on HIPAA for the right to do so. They are reassured that any of their information will only be shared with those who have a justifiable need to see it or have been given consent by the patient (Magee, n.d.). I believe HIPAA will continue

The government has also ensured compliance with HIPAA by implementing the HIPAA audit. The focus on specific controls such topics as policies and procedures to ensure privacy, confidentiality of the PHI of patients and evaluation of the action plans of the violation of security. Other security measures, including background checks of employees, all internal restrictions on the availability of private information and physical security measures to determine if they comply with the guidelines established by the HIPAA

HIPAA is the Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It became law in 1996. The original intent was to help employees change jobs and keep their health insurance by making their coverage portable. Later, on April 14, 2003 lawmakers broadened the law to include the Privacy Rule. Protected Health Information(PHI) is a HIPAA term, it includes all medical information of an individual. All patients health information is protected no matter what form it is in. PHI can be controlled in many forms such as backup disk or tapes, insurance statements, lab reports, prescription forms, patient form, email, etc. Five steps to comply with the Privacy Rule are:

HIPAA, signed into law in 1996, addresses various healthcare issues including insurance coverages, tax-related provisions and group health insurance requirements. HIPPA includes the Privacy Rule which establishes national standards to safeguard patient’s protected healthcare information (“PHI”) including medical records and gives patients access to their health information. These standards apply to health plans, health care clearinghouses and providers who manage healthcare transactions electronically including pharmacists and pharmacy staff.

HIPAA is an acronym that stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is a US law designed to provide privacy standards to protect patients medical records, as well as other health information provided to Health Plans, Doctors, Hospitals, and other healthcare providers (Medicinenet.com, 2017). Developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, this program was designed to give patients better access to their medical records and more control and how those records are distributed.

HIPAA law is for the protection of patient’s private health information. All covered entities must abide by HIPAA regulations in regards to all protect health information. HIPAA out line privacy and security rules in regards to the use and disclosure of all health information. This helps prevent abuse of protected information and allows patients to understand a covered entities responsibility to protect the information that is within the medical record. HIPAA was enacted in 1996 and has been followed by all covered entities since.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule, which regulates the use and disclosure of certain information held by a covered entity, took effect on April 14, 2003. The Privacy Rule regulates the use and disclosure of PHI. A medical office specialist must know and understand the guidelines included under the Privacy Rule, such as the guidelines for release of a patient’s health information to their family, friends, or other persons identified by the patient which are outlined under the Health INsurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. As a medical office specialist you need to know the safeguards for reducing the risks to PHI.

You have the right to request additional restrictions on the PHI that we may use for treatment, payment and health care operations. You may also request additional restrictions on our disclosure of PHI to certain individuals involved in your care that otherwise are permitted by the Privacy Rule. We will consider your request but are not legally required to agree to it. If we do agree to your request, we are required to comply with our agreement except in certain cases, including where the information is needed to treat you in the case of an emergency. To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to our Office Manager.

The principles that allow covered entities such as government agencies to release protected health information only with the patient’s consent is that PHI will be released in compliance with the regulations governing reporting requirements. There are times where the government can release protected health information, the HIPAA Privacy Rule provides that protected