Privacy Rule Under HIPAA

Healthcare technology has grown and evolved over time. With the conversion to electronic medical records and the creation of social media just to name a few, ensuring patient privacy is of the utmost importance for healthcare facilities in this day and age. In order for an organization to avoid hefty fines, it is imperative that a healthcare administrator maintains compliance with the standards and regulations associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This paper will provide a summary

In the unit where Andrew is located there is a white board the staff use. It lists Andrews name, diagnosis, room number, and important activities for the shift. How might this be a HIPPA violation or confidentiality issue?

Modern communications capabilities open up a world of possibilities for all types of medical practices to develop deeper connections with their patients and to manage health care remotely. The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives patients the right to obtain copies of their medical records, treatments and protected health information or PHI. These requirements go further if medical providers want to receive reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid -- patients must be able to access their records online, download copies and transmit the information to third-party providers. Most medical practices are finding it necessary to develop patient portals where patients and physicians can interact, share information and perform important functions such as practices billing patients and accepting payments online. HIPAA 's rules require that these patient portals have strong security and privacy protections to prevent unauthorized access of these confidential PHI records.

Even though hipaa violations are an important standard in preventing many individuals from causing several breaches of information from getting out, it is important to work on a strategies within several health care organizations that will work with the privacy rules regarding violation laws. “Jill Granger & Laura Cataldo (2013) reports When working in the healthcare setting, it is important to consult with the guidelines established by one's institution and to participate in any training programs to insure that the appropriate steps are being taken to maintain privacy. There are also a variety of additional resources available from the federal government and professional organizations to assist in the training process that may be especially

While I understand the need for both, I think that Congress should make HIPAA the law of the land with regards to medical privacy. Every individual’s rights and information should have the same level of protection no matter where in the United States they are located. Not only would a universal law help to eliminate the confusion between states, it would also remove a few of the barriers associated with universal healthcare. With better communication across state lines, patients will be able to send and receive information in a timely manner improving patient outcomes and quality.

Although HIPAA (Health insurance portability and accountability) is a standard for health care providers nationwide, there are rare instances in which HIPAA is violated. There are a number of ways HIPAA can be violated. HIPPA’s Privacy Rule applies only to covered entities – health plans, health care clearinghouses, and certain health care providers. The rule requires covered entities to obtain satisfactory assurance, in writing, form its business associate that the associate will appropriately safeguard the protected health information. Before delving into examples of HIPAA violations, let’s review HIPAA Regulations and laws.

With the healthcare that have changed as a result of the Hipaa privacy law, rules, and regulations. Hipaa privacy law is to protect the patient health records, and Privacy, governing access, use, and disclosure. With the privacy rule protection consistent set of standards affecting the providers, health plans. With noncompliance or penalties want to contact the authority, law enforcement.

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.

HIPPA is a government act signed into law to ensure portability of insurance between jobs, and to safeguard patient information confidentiality in an effort to protect patients and reduce healthcare fraud and abuse. Protected Health Information (PHI) includes anything “personally identifiable” within a patient’s healthcare information, the unregulated sharing of which can cause unwanted complications within a patient’s life, including but not limited to, emotional distress and discrimination by others. HIPPA is intended to regulate the release of PHI by focusing on three major focus areas in the healthcare workforce.

To perform work defined in the contract between a covered entity and its business associate.

According to HHS.gov, “HIPPA Privacy rule standards addresses to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information. Health information- called “protected Health information” by organization subject to the privacy rule called “covered entities,”. Some of those entities are: health plans, health care clearing houses and health care providers. HIPPA guidelines also, permit scientists the right to use PHI in order to conduct research. This research can only be done once the patient gives consent. HIPPA has huge repercussions for failing to comply with the process and procedures. They are both privacy and security rule that will be later discussed in this research. According to HHS.gov, “HIPPA Privacy rule standards addresses

They can just let her husband know that they aren’t allowed to give him her results because of Patients’ Rights. You can ask him to have her call Dr. Patterson Office back or they will try to reach her at another time. They only wat this is allowed is if they have appropriate authorization from the patient or the patient’s legal representative. Except for treatments purposes, you’re only to share the minimum necessary information. If not authorized only speak to the patient (or parent); don’t leave message with identifying

The Privacy Rule states that your personal health information can be used or shared for specific reasons that are not directly related to your care and some of these reasons include making sure physicians are giving the proper care to you as a patient, reporting influenza in your city or state or any required reporting by state or federal law. Regardless of whether it is being shared by physicians, health insurance providers or healthcare clearinghouses, a patient has the right to learn how their health information is used and if the purpose is not directly related to your care, then no health information can be disclosed without your permission. This means, without your written authorization, your physician cannot give your personal health information to your employer, other family members or share it for

As the Compliance Officer, I would choose the single ‘all or nothing’ approach when structuring a policy for applying the Privacy Rules. Though most cases are complex and are not as ‘cut and dry’ in the application of the privacy rules, at the end of the day, the single approach ensures simplicity and uniformity. The institution’s privacy notice will inform patients that the hospital may talk to family members and other individuals involved in their care and that minimal information about them included in the hospital’s directory can be provided to individuals that ask for the patient by name. The patient will however be giving the option to opt out of this. If they opt out, no information will be disclosed, if they do not then the hospital will use its discretion and professional judgment in making a decision that in the best interest of the patient as to who to disclose to. Hospital staff will be train on how to obtain use judgment on how to informally obtain information based on circumstances about a patient preference for disclosure of their PHI.

The correlation of increased potential patient rights violations and sensitive personal health data among electronic medical records than paper records is growing at an alarming rate. An estimated 52,000 public comments was reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services requiring privacy regulations governing individually identifiable health information since the passage of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1966 (HIPPA). The individually identifiable health information includes demographic data that relates to the individuals past, present, or future physical or mental health condition. In addition, the provision of health care rights of the individual, confidentiality, protection of