Medical Resources: A Guide to HIPAA

HIPAA refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The U.S. Office of Civil Rights oversees this act, which was first instituted in 1996, to closely guard and monitor access to confidential medical information that, if made public, can reveal or hint at the identity of the patient. HIPAA protects the privacy of citizens and strives to guarantee that confidentiality of medical data is maintained. Those who violate patient privacy by ignoring HIPAA guidelines can reap criminal charges or civil repercussions.

• The Basics of HIPAA: This research summarizes what HIPAA is and its benefits.
• Patient Privacy: This website explains HIPAA’s focus on privacy and the federal monitoring that preserves that privacy.
• HIPAA FAQS: This websites gives answers to frequently asked questions about HIPAA.
• Types of Companies who Must Follow HIPAA This webpage summarizes the agencies who are responsible for following HIPAA guidelines and when such compliance is necessary.
• Electronic Data & HIPAA: This website discusses how converting hard copy medical files to digital files for better universal access coincided with HIPAA and may have necessitated it.
• HIPAA Timeline: This website summarizes key events in the development of HIPAA from 1996 to 2009.
• Details of HIPAA: This website succinctly explains and defines all the facets of HIPAA.
• History of Modifications: This website offers a timeline of significant changes to HIPAA from 1996 onward.
• Misconceptions About HIPAA: This article addresses widespread untruths about HIPAA.

HIPAA protects patients by focusing on three key areas: privacy guarantees, security measures, and flexible insurance. Portable insurance is one of major boons of HIPAA. It makes it possible for people who leave or lose a job to continue coverage for their families. In terms of security, HIPAA has made it illegal for even casual references to medical tests, results, doctor’s visits, and bills to be made to people who by law are not required to know the information. This means patients can worry less about having personal files left in public view or in a copy machine; they can also worry less about a doctor, nurse, or medical secretary sharing tidbits of their visit.

Companies are required to have adequate security of both electronic and hard copy files. HIPAA requires companies to employ compliance officers to regularly study whether patients or consumers are really being protected. Penalties are stiff for those who try to skirt HIPAA rules. They can face huge monetary penalties or even jail time.

• The Privacy Rule: This website explains the parameters of HIPAA’s rules for privacy.
• Protecting Patients: This article looks at the small things at must be changed to protect patients under HIPAA – like no longer leaving patient sign in sheets available for public viewing on a counter.
• How HIPAA affects insurance for patients: This website explains the possibility of conversion insurance under HIPAA.
• More Information for Patients: This website reveals how HIPAA requires insurance companies and employers to divulge more complete information and benefits to consumers/patients.
• HIPAA Insurance by State: This website looks at what insurance coverage is possible in all states as a result of HIPAA rules.
• HIPAA Portability Rights for Families: This website looks at the HIPAA guarantees of insurance portability for patients.
• Who Enforces HIPAA?: This website identifies the two federal entities endowed with the responsibility for enforcing HIPAA.
• Patient Rights: These webpage bullets the most important patient rights under HIPAA.
• What If Your Privacy has Been Violated?: This website tells what to do if the polices of HIPAA have been breached.
• HIPAA Violations: This webpage explains the consequences of violating HIPAA.
• How Violations Are Handled: This website explains the specifics of possible civil and criminal sanctions.
• Multi-Million Dollar Settlement for Violations: This press release from the Federal Trade Commission details a $2.25 million settlement against a pharmacy that violated HIPAA law.
• Reporting Violations: This website advises patients on how to properly report HIPAA violations by various agencies.
• Violations You Should Watch Out For: Patients who fear they have been the victim of HIPAA violations should discern if an act on this list was committed. This list includes violations such as knowingly giving health information about someone to another person.

Resources abound to address patient concerns, fears, and confusion about HIPAA. There are online resource centers and newsletters in addition to downloadable brochures.

• List of HIPAA Resources: This website directs patients to a bevy of authoritative HIPAA resources.
• HIPAA News: This website reports on news and events linked to HIPAA.
• HIPAA Outreach: HIPAA Outreach is a listserv that will deliver the latest announcements on HIPAA to anyone who signs up.
• Resource Center: This health website offers an online resource center for HIPAA information.