|
|
HIPPA Compliance Overview
Home » Healthcare Administration » HIPPA Compliance » HIPPA Compliance OverviewHIPPA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996. This law mandates significant changes in health services and health information. This Act is a set of rules that must be followed by doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. It helps ensure medical records, billing and patient accounts meet standards with regard to documentation, handling and privacy. One implication of HIPPA involves sharing medical information with others. Your doctor should not consult with family members about a loved one’s medical condition without a signed consent. One way in which to simplify health coverage is to encourage electronic transactions. Due to the electronic transactions, regulations have been put in place to assure privacy of the stored medical data including records and billing systems. HIPAA requires that patients have access to their own medical records, correct errors or omissions and be informed how personal information is shared. The basic patient does not realize the impact of HIPPA until there is a visit to the doctor. Healthcare provider must provide privacy procedures and identify the employees who will access to the protected health information with documentation of their training. Providers also must document ongoing training programs regarding HIPAA compliance. Covered entities must also have contingency plans in place in case of emergencies to protect information. Internal audits are also conducted to ensure HIPAA compliance. Audits are utilized to review operations with the goal of identifying security violations and are performed on a routine basis. The healthcare practice must inform the patient of HIPPA practice and compliance. The doctor must provide rights that are called “Notice of Privacy Practices.” The rights include patient rights, HIPAA policies and the address of where to complain. There are stiff repercussions for non-compliance of HIPPA including fines, penalties and possible jail time.
Related HIPPA Compliance Articles