HIPPA is a set of federal regulations that govern how patient health information can be used and disclosed. Failure to comply with HIPPA laws could result in civil or criminal penalties against the person or entity responsible for the violation. The most common violations are: Inadvertently disclosing protected information, such as in an email sent to the wrong recipient, sharing protected health information outside of permitted uses and disclosures (for example, using it for marketing purposes), and failing to provide notification when there has been a breach of unsecured protected health information. It is really important to be HIPPA compliant. Here’s why.

1. What is HIPPA?

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was signed into law in 1996 to establish standards that would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system by ensuring access to consistent and high-quality care. It broadly applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses as well as those who provide certain health care services on behalf of those plans or providers. You can find out more information online. HIPAA’s Privacy Rule gives patients increased control over their personal medical records and sets boundaries on how someone can use or disclose another person’s health information.

2. What Is Protected Under The Privacy Rule?

Patients Rights

Individuals have a right to privacy regarding their medical records. The Privacy Rule gives patients the right to access their records, request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of their information and receive an accounting of disclosures made by a covered entity.

Prevents Fraud and Abuse

The Privacy Rule also helps to protect patients from fraud and abuse. For example, it helps to prevent someone from obtaining prescription drugs by falsely claiming to be the patient. It also helps to ensure that health care providers are not billing for services that were not provided.

Maintains Confidentiality

HIPAA protects the confidentiality of patient information. This is important because it allows patients to feel comfortable sharing sensitive information with their health care providers without fear that it will be released.

Assures Quality Care

The Privacy Rule also helps assure that health care providers are giving patients the highest quality care. For example, if a patient is thinking of transferring to another hospital or doctor, they will be more likely to do so if they know their records are readily available and can easily follow them in their new location. When everyone follows HIPAA rules, patients get better care.

3. Enables Sharing of Medical Information

HIPAA allows for sharing of medical information when it benefits the patient either directly or indirectly. The Privacy Rule permits covered entities to share protected health information with other covered entities for treatment activities without patient authorization. This means that many specialties may have access to your private medical information without obtaining your permission first. However, this does not mean that every health care provider has the right to access your private medical information. Unless you consent, only those health care providers who are involved in your treatment may have access to your medical records.

4. Establishes New Rights for Individuals

Under HIPAA, individuals also have new rights regarding their personal medical information. For example, they have the right to receive a copy of their medical records in an electronic format, the right to request that their information not be used for marketing purposes, and the right to receive notification if their unsecured protected health information is breached.

5. Ensures Security for Electronic Protected Health Information

Electronically protected health information is any personal medical information created, received, transmitted, or maintained electronically. Security protections must be implemented to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of this sensitive data. HIPAA applies equally to paper records that are being converted into an electronic format as it does to original electronic documents containing patient information. All covered entities are responsible for implementing reasonable and appropriate administrative, physical and technical safeguards when using or disclosing any form of electronically protected health information.

6. Prevents Discrimination

The Privacy Rule prohibits health plans and health care providers from using or disclosing protected health information in a way that would discriminate against a patient. This means that they cannot disclose information that could lead to someone being denied health insurance or employment, for example.

HIPPA has many benefits that are important to patients as well as healthcare providers. Some of these include that it prevents fraud, maintains confidentiality, assures quality care, enables sharing medical records when beneficial to the patient either directly or indirectly (allows access only with consent), establishes new rights for individuals like the right to receive a copy of their medical record in electronic format or request not be used for marketing purposes- which helps drive more sales if they feel comfortable providing sensitive information without fear it will release publicly -prevents discrimination based on protected health information disclosed.