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Hipaa, Health Insurance And Portability Act Of 1996

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HIPAA (Health Insurance and Portability Act of 1996), outlines rules, regulations and the rights of patients to access their healthcare information such as notifications of privacy practices, copying and viewing medical records, and amendments. This paper explains why confidentiality is important today and discusses recourses patients can use if they believe their privacy has been violated. This paper will also discuss criminal and civil penalties’ that can occur for breaking HIPAA privacy rules. Keywords: HIPAA, health information, patients’ rights Patients’ Rights under HIPAA In 2003, a federal law that provided privacy and security protection was imposed upon all healthcare organizations including hospitals, physician practices, health insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, employers, and labs, as well as other providers. With passage of this law all patients now have a right to their PHI -Protected Health Information- under HIPAA which includes the right to receive a notice of privacy practices, to copy and view information in their medical record, request amendments, receive an accounting of disclosures, request communication about medical matters, restrict the use and disclosure of their medical record, and to file a complaint about violations of privacy (Modifications to the HIPAA, 2013). What is HIPAA The Health Insurance and Portability Act of 1996, known by the acronym HIPAA, is a civil rights law that was passed to give patients

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