The Importance And Cons Of Security And Security

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.).

Under the HIPAA compliance audit program if a healthcare organization has attested and is later audited and found not to be compliant with HIPAA, the organization could face penalties including giving back the meaningful use incentive money. (Goedert, 2013) provided the following ways to ensure compliance: conduct mock audits, make sure all data within the organization is encrypted, computer access is logged, network security gaps have been filled, policies and regulations have been updated and expanded, and most importantly that all staff complete annual HIPAA training courses with emphasis on privacy and security.

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).

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

A minimum structure is required, either by nature or by function. Several items have to be disclosed separately on the face of the income statement or within the notes.

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

In the hospital area itself we must give patients a clear written explanation of the allowable uses and disclosures of their personal health information. We make them sign giving us permission to share their information with other health personal. They must acknowledge a notice of the hospitals privacy policies they are not chastised if they do not sign and may still be treated.

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

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

HIPAA Privacy Rule also allows for a practitioner or covered entity to use or disclose Minimum Necessity information pertaining to a patient’s health condition or status. Minimum Necessity is the minimum PHI required to accomplish the intended purpose surrounding the care of the patient.

Most people have a basic understanding about HIPAA and what it entails, but for future healthcare leaders, it is a critical issue. The goals behind the HIPAA privacy rules are very beneficial for keeping individual’s health information private, but it does place a heavy burden on organizations to ensure the information remains protected. Healthcare leaders have always had to adapt to change, but it is becoming increasingly necessary to have leaders that can adapt quicker than ever. Not only do they need to keep up with the technological advances in healthcare, but they also need to become compliant with the new and ever-changing healthcare laws. Numerous modifications have been implemented under HIPAA in the

Today, healthcare professionals diligently work to follow patient confidentiality and HIPAA standards. In chapter 10 in the section titled “What are the obligations to patient under HIPAA” was intriguing. All healthcare professionals have a moral and legal responsibility to the patient under The Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPPA) of 1996, when HIPPA was enacted by congress and signed by Present Bill Clinton in 1996 as a law. Most in healthcare were skeptical on how this law would impact the system. Also, people questioned if HIPAA would actually make any improvement in privacy protection for the patient. The HIPAA Privacy Rule has helped to create a culture of compliance within today’s healthcare. Initially, healthcare professionals

Ten years ago after much challenges and questionable skepticism, the HIPAA policy became effective and has been shaping healthcare one regulatory policy at a time. The evolution of the HIPAA privacy act helped establish the HIPAA Security Rule which was published in 2003 and became effective in 2005, and then eventually led to the HIPAA Enforcement Rules and the Breach Notification Rule. With it joint fortification of the 2009 HITECH Act and HIPAA’s modifications to regulations, it was released in January 2013 to the industry (American Health Information Management Association, 2013).

3.) Under HIPAA, covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouse) must comply with the privacy rules. A covered entity may develop its own privacy rules that would accommodate its own needs of protected health information (PHI) management but it most comply with the HIPAA guidelines. It is the responsibility of the entity to put in place a privacy official to oversee the policies, procedures and be on hand and available to be contacted in reference to the privacy rule. A patient should be given a privacy notice act at his/her health facility stating how their (PHI) is being used and to whom it will be shared. The covered entity should include in the notice their duty to assure the patients privacy as well as how and whom to contact if there is a complaint or they feel that their rights have been violated. As of 2009 the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) handles complaints that are made on privacy policies, procedure and practices of HIPAA covered entities.

In this paper, I will discuss the principles that permit disclosure of protected health information with or without the patient’s consent for each of the four categories, government agencies, legal agencies or representatives and research groups. I will also state whether I feel privacy safeguards are adequate to support those principles.