Question

Prepare a two page (Level 2 writing guidelines) paper with a minimum of three scholarly references. HIPAA has influenced pubic health

Describe the purpose of the law, the impact of the law and what populations most benefit from this legislation.

Answer 1

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996. It established several privacy rules and regulations for health care profession about the patient confidentially. The four components of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Subsection are,

1. Transactions and code sets
2. Uniform identifiers (to avoid unauthorized access of health care information)
3. Privacy
4. Security

The three categories of HIPAA security standards are,

1. Administrative safeguards – Include assignment or delegation of security responsibility to an individual and the requirements of security training
2. Physical safeguards – To protect electronic systems, equipment and the data present in the electronic systems from threats and hazards. Restricting access to EPHI (Protected Health Information in Electronic form), and retaining off-site computer backups are physical safeguards.
3. Technical safeguards – Automated processes used to protect and regulating accessing the data. For example, authentication verification of a person accessing EPHI is an example of technical safeguard.

The “privacy” components of Administrative Simplification Subsection require employee training. The HIPAA Privacy Rule protect the patient’s private information. The health care individuals require training regarding implementation of HIPAA Privacy Rule, which is important to avoid misuse of patient information and related legal sues.

All the healthcare professionals have to maintain the patient confidentiality, which includes their personal details, the tests ordered and the clinical condition. This information must not be discussed with the colleagues, friends, or the family members of the patient (without the patient’s consent).

Although the patient’s health records can be provided to a lawyer on legal purposes, one should submit the patient authorization form to collect the health record. Without the patient authorization form, the health information should not be given, which is considered as violation of HIPAA guidelines.

Branching the rules of patient confidentiality (i.e. if the records are given without patient authorization form) results in immediate termination of the employee and legal sue. Two examples of violating the HIPAA rules include,

• Disclosing the discussions done in an examination room to the other staff members or family members (outside the office).
• Accessing the patient information without proper justification

HIPAA and confidentiality about HIV patients:

The confidentiality restrictions about the patient’s HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection status varies from one state to the other. The healthcare professionals are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of HIV patients. The unique identifiers keep the information of patients who are tested for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) confidential.

Most of the people hesitate to take HIV test because they concern about their confidentiality and they think that their names will be reported to certain agencies. Unique identifiers help to avoid this problem, patients feel much more confident and believe that the chances of discrimination due to their HIV status are reduced.

Reference:

Pabrai, U. O. A. (2003). Getting started with HIPAA. Course Technology Press.