If you have gone to a doctor’s appointment within the last 20 years, you have likely signed a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form. HIPAA protects a patient’s mental and physical health information and allows the patient access to records. Under the law, the patient can also distribute those records to other parties. As with mandated reporting, there are exceptions to the HIPAA protection, such as in cases of abuse or public health threats.
you learn more about HIPAA regulations and reflect on your exposure to HIPAA as a patient.
watch the Southside Community Services video listed in this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on how HIPAA informs the interaction between the social worker and the client.
Reflection
- Identify two HIPAA regulations for health care providers.
- Describe a time when you have signed a form related to HIPAA (e.g., doctor’s office)
- Reflect on your knowledge as the consumer on the regulations of HIPAA and how your provider explained your rights. Explain whether or not your provider adequately informed you of your rights?
- Explain how HIPAA supports or doesn’t support the NASW Code of Ethics (2008).
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html
Cummins, L., K., & Sevel, J., A. (2017). Social work skills for beginning direct practice: Text, workbook, and interactive web based case studies (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
- Appendix B, “HIPAA and Confidentiality Issues” (pp. 299-303)
must be 2-3 pages and have reference page
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WAL_SOCW2002_11_A_EN-CC2.zip
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AppendixB1.pdf
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theprecedingstandards..pdf
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AppendixE.pdf
WAL_SOCW2002_11_A_EN-CC.mp4
USEFUL NOTES FOR:
HIPAA regulations and reflect on your exposure to HIPAA as a patient.
Introduction
HIPAA is a set of rules that govern the use and disclosure of health care information. The Privacy Rule applies to covered entities (such as hospitals, doctors and other health-care providers) and their business associates. The Security Rule applies to covered entities’ IT infrastructure—including computer hardware and software—and their business associates. Both sets of requirements apply to all organizations that have electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule is a federal law that protects the privacy of health information. It was passed by Congress in 1996 and is enforced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The goal of this rule is to enable individuals to get access to their own medical records, which can be used for things like making payments or accessing services at community clinics and hospitals, as well as giving family members access when needed. It also protects against fraudsters who might try to use stolen information for identity theft or financial gain instead of doing legitimate business with you directly—for example, someone might try selling your records online without your knowledge or consent; this could have serious consequences if you were personally affected by this type of crime!
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule requires that all electronic protected health information (ePHI) be protected with reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. This means that when you receive medical care, your records are held in a secure environment where they cannot be stolen or altered without your consent.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires that covered entities—such as doctors’ offices, hospitals, and health plans—make sure they have policies in place to keep patients’ private information safe from unauthorized access. If an employee at one of these institutions makes an error while processing patient data on their computer system, it could result in serious consequences for both them and the patient whose sensitive information was compromised by their actions.
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
The HITECH Act is a federal law that aims to improve the electronic health records system. The HITECH Act was passed in 2009, which requires the Secretary of HHS to publish a list of certified EHR technology.
HITECH also provides incentives for providers who choose electronic health records (EHR). Providers can receive up to $44 million per year from Medicare and Medicaid if they use certified EHRs as part of their practice or plan.
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITCH) Amendments Act of 2009
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is a federal law that was passed in 2009. The purpose of the HITECH Act is to improve the quality and safety of health care by requiring health care providers to adopt electronic health records, implement security measures, report data breaches and train staff on how to handle patient information.
HITECH has been very successful at improving patient safety while also helping reduce costs associated with paper records. It’s important that you understand your responsibility under HIPAA so you can better protect yourself from any potential breaches or other issues related to privacy violations through your medical records
Understanding the importance of good health care data policy can help improve the quality of patient care.
HIPAA is a law that requires the protection of health data. It also mandates that all patient data be protected and stored securely, which helps to ensure that any breach of patient information will not affect other patients or third parties.
A great way to make sure your organization adheres to HIPAA guidelines is by implementing policies and procedures for handling this type of information. The more you know about what kind of practices are in place at each level within your organization, the easier it will be for everyone involved in patient care—including yourself as an employee—to understand what’s expected when it comes time for them to use any given piece of equipment or technology on behalf of their patients.
Conclusion
The HIPAA regulations are complex and can be confusing to work with. However, the right data policy can help improve the quality of patient care and increase your organization’s overall efficiency. By following these steps, you can help ensure that patients receive the care they deserve from their healthcare providers and insurance companies.