The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (...

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted for the purpose of protecting the privacy of a client s personal and health information. ¹ Under HIPAA, protected health information (PHI) includes but is not limited to the following: a person s name, address, date of birth, age, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address, medical records, diagnosis, x-rays, photos, prescriptions, lab work, or test results. ¹ In this particular case scenario, a healthcare employee not only breached HIPAA in regards to publically releasing a patient’s PHI without the consent of the patient, but they also betrayed their patient’s trust. Regardless of any personal relationship a physical therapist would have with another healthcare professional, steps must be taken to assure that this breach in patient confidentiality is rectified and that a similar mistake is not made again. This particular situation is made increasingly difficult due to the nature of not only m y professional working relationship with this fellow member of the healthcare team, but also by the fact that I consider her one of my closest friends. Although I am not directly in charge of a certified occupational therapy assistant’s (COTA) patient case load, it is my â€Å"legal obligation to protect confidential patient/client information† according to Principle 2E of the Physical Therapy Code of Ethics. ² Also according to the Physical Therapy Code of Ethics section 4C, â€Å"physical therapists shall discourageShow MoreRelatedThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act ( Hipaa )1113 Words   |  5 PagesMost of us are familiar with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as the federal law that ensures protection and security of patients’ personal and health information. Its initial purpose was to protect transmittal of electronic health information as technology began replacing paper (records, communications, and such.) While our personal information is being protected, and it prevents insurance companies from using this information against us when they are determiningRead More The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)882 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, most commonly known by its initials HIPAA, was enacted by Congress then signed by President Bill Clinton on August 21, 1996. This act was put into place in order to regulate the privacy of patient health information, and as an effort to lower the cost of health care, shape the many pieces of our complicated healthcare system. This act also protects individuals from losing their healthRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act ( Hipaa )1383 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This act of congress has changed how every covered entity manages and distributes health information. Standards have been established for providers. Patients have the right to view their health records. They also have recourse if their health information is disclosed without their permission. As a patient you (or your personal representative) have the right to view and receive a copy of your medical and billing records fromRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act ( Hipaa )1533 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION: PRIVACY IN HEALTHCARE The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), public law was enacted on August 21, 1996 (HIPAA - General Information, 2013, April 2). HIPAA required the Secretary to issue privacy regulations to rule individually identifiable health information (HHS.gov, n.d.). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) applies to health plans, health care clearing houses, and to any health care provider who carries health information into electronicRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act ( Hipaa )899 Words   |  4 Pagesinformation present in health care. In their field of work, nurses organize data they collect and incorporate it into effective nursing interventions and care plans. As technology increasingly arises in health care, nurses have the duty to maintain privacy and confidentiality of their patient. Therefore, nurses must be proficient in nursing informatics, are responsible for adequate information and documentation, and must abide the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to safeguard theirRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act ( Hipaa )1171 Words   |  5 Pagesfixtures in any business or health care related profession. While these advances increased workplace efficiency and the ease in which one could access company and patient information, it opened organizations and individuals up to security breaches and unsecured information. Overall, these developments brought to light the need for enhanced security and patient control over medical records and treatment. In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by CongressRead MoreHipaa Or Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 1996983 Words   |  4 Pages HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a set of laws aimed to protect people from losing their health insurance coverage during change or loss of employment, to c ontrol health care fraud and abuse, and to maintain patient`s health information and/or status confidential. The origins of HIPAA go as far back as the 1990 when medical records were suggested to become computerized, management of health care records was questioned and portability of health insurance becameRead MoreHealth Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 1996 ( Hipaa )1319 Words   |  6 Pagescovers information security within Healthcare: †¢ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) †¢ Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, †¢ Affordable Care Act of 2010 2. Review and describe each regulation in your own words in minimum 1000 words. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) HIPAA, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act was signed into law in 1996 by President ClintonRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 1996 ( Hipaa )1685 Words   |  7 PagesOffice of Civil Rights (OCR) maintains one of the most well-known laws meant to protect the privacy of health information - the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA is composed of statute and rules such as the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule, and others. These rules cover various aspects of health information security. For example, â€Å"the HIPAA Security Rule specifies a series of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for covered entitiesRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 1996 ( Hipaa )1686 Words   |  7 PagesLaw 104-191, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The purpose was to improve the Medicare program under tit le XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system. This public law encouraged the development of a health information system through standards and requirements for the electronic transmission of certain health information (aspe.hhs.go). The Act established a program The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (... In 1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This act of congress has changed how every covered entity manages and distributes health information. Standards have been established for providers. Patients have the right to view their health records. They also have recourse if their health information is disclosed without their permission. As a patient you (or your personal representative) have the right to view and receive a copy of your medical and billing records from physicians, pharmacists and health insurance provider. This record can be electronic or a paper copy. Patient’s can also request that their health records be sent to another health care provider. A health care provider or health plan may†¦show more content†¦If your provider wants to share information about you, they must request permission from you to do so. If you find that your medical record contains an error, you can request a correction. Your physician is required to respond to this request. If the physician does not agree with you, the patient is allowed to write a statement of disagreement that must be kept with your records. A breach is usually described as â€Å"an impermissible use (or disclosure) under the Privacy Rule that compromises the security or privacy of protected health information.† There are three exceptions to the definition of â€Å"breach.† The first exception applies to the unintentional acquisition, access, or use of protected health information by a workforce member. This can also apply to a person acting under the authority of a covered entity or business associate. If such acquisition, access, or use was made in good faith and within the scope of authority, it qualifies as an exception. The second exception applies to the inadvertent disclosure of protected health information by a person authorized to access protected health information at a covered entity or business associate to another person authorized to access protected health information at the covered entity or business associate, or organized health care arrangement in which the covered entity participates. In both cases, the information cannot be further used or