HIPAA Privacy

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

. HIPAA privacy rules are complicated and extensive, and set forth guidelines to be followed by health care providers and other covered entities such as insurance carriers and by consumers. HIPAA is very specific in its requirements regarding the release of information, but is not as specific when it comes to the manner in which training and policies are developed and delivered within the health care industry. This paper will discuss how HIPAA affects a patient's access to their medical records, how and under what circumstances personal health information can be released to other entities for purposes

The primary goal of the Privacy Rule is to protect the individual’s health information from improper use and at the same time allowing the transfer of health information that will deliver and stimulate high quality health care. The Privacy Rule, affect health plans, health care clearinghouses, as well as health care provider who provide health information in electronic method in association with transactions for which the Secretary of HHS has adopted standards under HIPAA (HHS.gov, 2008).

The main goal of HIPAA is to protect unauthorized access and misuse of confidential health information. It allows for the safe storage of any health facts used, collected, transmitted or maintained by any health organization. It states that all health information about a particular client is completely confidential, regardless of what the format is and whether it is transmitted, maintained or collected. Protected information is that health information that already identifies the patient or could be used in order to identify the patient; it also relates to any of the patient’s past, present or future health conditions, any treatment the patient receives and any payment the patient makes toward their care.

All healthcare providers, health organizations, and government health plans that use, store, maintain, or transmit patient health care information are required to comply with the privacy regulations of the HIPAA

HIPAA, short for The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a privacy act that helps protect your health information. It was created to assure that individuals’ health information is protected safely and securely by allowing the right to protect the release of personal information to unauthorized individuals or organizations. It is important to know what your rights are, know when they have been violated and what you can do, know what the civil and criminal penalties for disclosure are, and know why HIPAA is important. ADD MORE

HIPAA is governed by 2 entities, the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule. These two rules dictates to outline what the Health and Human Services (HHS) requires to handle Protected Health Information (PHI) in all forms. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) enforces HIPAA and can leverage

The privacy rule applies to personal health information in any form, electronic or paper, which includes the entire medical record. Individuals have full access to their information, can limit who can gain access to his or her records, can request changes to their medical record if there’s any reason they suspect that the information isn't accurate. In addition, the private information shared is kept to the minimal amount needed. Also, the patients have the privilege to decide whether or not to release their protected health information or PHI for purposes unrelated to any treatments or payment issues, such as research project. (Krager & Krager, 2008) HIPAA implemented specific code sets for diagnosis and procedures to be used in all transactions. Covered entities must adhere to the content and format requirements of each standard. (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d)The security rule supplements the privacy rule; it deals specifically with electronic PHI or ePHI. It applies to covered entities that transmit health information in electronically. The Security Rule requires covered entities to keep appropriate

What the HIPAA law states. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a law that was enacted in 1996 establishing safeguards and rules to protect patients demographics and medical records. These rules limit the circumstances of how health records are used or obtained without the patient's authorization. HIPAA has set national standards that require these safeguards to maintain the attainability of health records and keeping them classified. This rule applies to any institutional and noninstitutional providers and only a written authorization by the patient will allow any use of their health records be disclosed.

It is important for all health care recipients and health care providers to read information regarding HIPAA that way everyone will be informed of what rights are privacy they are entitled to and the workers are aware of what information needs to remain confidential. People can receive handouts regarding information about HIPAA, as well as the Internet. There are hundreds of online websites that people can go to in order to receive more information on how HIPAA works and what is required to ensure everyone follows the laws that go along with HIPAA. Breaking the law can have some major consequences so it is important to understand HIPAA and what privacy laws are enforced to protect a patient’s information. The information that is

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also known as HIPAA was first signed into law on the federal level in 1996. Since it was signed into law it has had a huge effect on patient’s privacy, healthcare workers and even insurance company’s. “HIPAA is intended to improve efficiency throughout health care and requires that health care providers adhere to standardized national privacy and confidentiality protections.” (OMA p .236). It’s an invaluable tool that has created a standard of compliance across the healthcare field.

What is HIPAA Compliance? HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This act was created in 1996 by congress and signed by president Bill Clinton. It inspires systematization of medical data. HIPAA contains two rules which are privacy and security. HIPAA Security Rule conducts collections,transmittal, IT systems,and storage of electronic patient records. While HIPAA privacy rule controls paper records, HIPAA keeps medical information confidential and protects patient’s information from being put on social media or given to unknown people. Every medical company has devised it’s own standard for interpreting the HIPAA regulations.

The impact of HIPAA with adhering to rules pertaining to confidentiality and release PHI (protected health information) HIPAA rules give you new rights to know about and to control how your health information gets used. Y our healthcare provider and your insurance company have to explain how they'll use and disclose health information. You can ask for copies of all this information, and make appropriate changes to it. If someone wants to share your health information, you have to give your formal consent. You have the right to complain to HHS (health and human services) about violations of HIPAA rules. Health information is to be used only for health purposes. In HIPAA under the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information

The federal HIPAA legislation law was enacted on August 21, 1996 created by Congress. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act . HIPAA was thought of as congress began to recognize the importance of protecting private health information. The act fulfills the purpose to provide health care coverage and simplify administrative functions within the health care industry. The accountability portion of the act is made to ensure the security and confidentiality of patient information. The HIPAA act has provided many benefits for patients and hospital staff.

Patient confidentiality is a sensitive issue. So the question whether breaching of patient’s confidentially in certain circumstance is justified? Then it will depend on the circumstances that was involved. In the Australian Medical Association Code of Ethics under the section of the doctor and the patient with subsection of patient care, it is stated that “Maintain your patient 's confidentiality. Exceptions to this must be taken very seriously. They may include where there is a serious risk to the patient or another person, where required by law, where part of approved research, or where there are overwhelming societal interests.” (1)