preview

Essay about Hipaa: Impact the Delivery of Human Services

Better Essays

HIPAA: Impact the Delivery of Human Services

July 12, 2008 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed on 21st August 1996 by the U.S President Bill Clinton. Most healthcare insurance companies and providers are to remain to the HIPAA regulation guidelines by October 2002 and October 2003 for smaller health plans. If you are in the healthcare industry, you have probably heard some rumblings about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, calmly referred to as HIPAA. The word is your medical practice will have to be HIPAA compliant by April 2003, but you are not exactly sure what this act mandates or how to accomplish it. In very basic terms, HIPAA has two primary components …show more content…

The purpose or rationale of HIPAA law is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health insurance system and to protect privacy of the patients. Continuity of healthcare coverage is ensured by this law, which allows individuals to qualify immediately for comparable health insurance coverage at the time of changing the employment relationships. By replacing several non-standard formats that are currently used in the country (U.S) by means of a single set of electronic standards (used throughout the healthcare industry), HIPAA reduces the cost and administrative burdens of health care. The law improves the profitability and continuity of health insurance coverage. HIPAA prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of their health status (What is HIPAA? 2008). Key privacy provisions establish that patients must be able to access their records and correct errors, in addition to being informed of how their personal information will be used. Patient information can only be shared to treat the patient and cannot be used for marketing purposes without their explicit consent. Patients can ask their health insurers and providers to take reasonable steps to ensure that their communications with the patient are confidential, and file formal privacy-related complaints to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil

Get Access