Question

Several Dr offices are merging together, during the merge it is discovered that each practice have a different type of digital copier that they have used in their offices. What potential HIPPA violation can be identified in the scenario?

Answer 1

HIPPA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

* HIPAA was passed:

a. Improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage.
b. Combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery
c. Promote the use of medical savings accounts
d. Improve access to long term health care coverage
e. Simplify the administration of health insurance.

* The purpose of HIPAA:

To standardize Health care transactions as well as rules which protect the privacy and security of health information.

*HIPPA on health care industry:
- Standardization of transactions to electronic for administrative and financial health care transactions.
- Unique health identifiers for employers, health plans,health care providers and individuals
- Security standards protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Individually Identifiable Health Information (IIHI).

*The other names of HIPPA are:

1) Public Law 104-194 (H.R. 3103)
2) The Kennedy Kassebaum Bill

In the present scenario, we can see that "Several Dr offices are merging together, during the merge it is discovered that each practice have a different type of digital copier that they have used in their offices"

The newer printers and copiers being as sophisticated as they are, the data is stored for a long time. This opens up the medical practice to sensitive information being non-compliant with HIPAA regulations.

*HIPAA compliance laws are in place to make sure that all medical information is kept private. Patient information is important and sensitive. Violating this privacy can lead to severe fines.

*When the copier and printer DO need to be used (and it will still be needed), keep mind of how often it gets cleared out. Remember, hitting delete on info does not actually delete it.

Here due to the merging of data from several Dr.offices leads, there is no protection of the patient private information/confidential matters. This may lead to the disclosure of confidential matters of each individual patients thus come as a HIPPA violation.