What Are The Effects Of Hipaa On Health Care Organizations

Submitted by: Greg Garner

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has had a profound effect on the way health care providers and individuals who electronically transmit protected information of patients can use and access this information. HIPAA affects all organizations that are classified as covered entities as per the act. Employees of these organizations need to be adequately trained in the various rules and regulations of the act so that there is no violation of the act.

What Are The Top 5 Effects Of HIPAA On Covered Entities?

1.The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that was passed as a federal law in 1996 aims at protecting the privacy of patients from any unauthorized access. Irrespective of how this protected information is stored by the covered entities it needs to be safeguarded. The health care providers must have policies in place that will ensure that only people who are authorized to access this confidential information are able to do so for specific reasons.

2.Employers would need to provide adequate training to their staff about the various rules and regulations of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This will ensure compliance of the Act. The training should be an ongoing process and new amendments or changes that are made to HIPAA should also be passed on to the employees. It is also the duty of the employer to ensure that any new person joining the organization will also be provided training. If there has been any violation of HIPAA the employer would need to provide the training again so that the various provisions of the act are understood better.

3.Although the protected information of patients can only be accessed after permission from the patients or representatives who act on their behalf there are various circumstances when this permission is not required. There are various national priorities when the federal agencies will not be required to take any specific permission to access the confidential information.

4.If there has been any violation of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, it is important that the covered entities investigate the violation and take corrective measures. If the violation in unintentional there is usually a 30 day time period given by HIPAA to correct the violation. There can also be extension of time provided if there is a request made in this regard.

5.Irrespective of whether the violation is intentional or unintentional there are various penalties that are imposed. The penalties could range from fines to imprisonment depending on the extent of the violation. There is a minimum fine that is stipulated for each violation and if the violation is repeated the fines can be increased subject to the maximum that is fixed by HIPAA. If the violation was intentional with the intent to misuse the information then there can be a criminal penalty that can result in fines and imprisonment.

All health care providers who are classified as covered entities will need to be aware of the various aspects of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This will ensure easy compliance.

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