HIPAA privacy and security guidelines are essential for medical companies to follow in order to protect private health information. By the end of this article, readers will understand how to follow privacy and security guidelines for handling confidential medical information.
HIPAA Basics
To begin this article , it’s important to know the basic standards of the Health Insurance Probability and Accountability Act. Below are some key terms and definitions that will be useful for understanding the basics of HIPAA regulations. Doing so will help medical companies comely with privacy and security guidelines.
- Covered entity: These are “individuals or organizations that must follow HIPAA policies in order to protect the privacy and security of health information”. Covered entities can range from healthcare providers to health plans, as well as healthcare clearinghouses.
- Business Associates: In this case, business associates are those that “have some sort of contract with the covered entity and help carry out its healthcare functions”. As a result, business associates must comply with the rules’ requirements to protect the privacy and security of health information.
- Protected Health Information: Abbreviated as “PHI”, this includes an individual’s private health data. This data generally includes past or current medical conditions, and payments. In addition, protected health information also includes demographic data such as “insurance details and birth dates”.
Privacy and Security
With so much private information, federal and national guidelines serve as safeguards to protect private medical data. These guidelines include individual rights to health information. Individuals may also file complaints with their provider or insurer if they believe their covered entity’s handling of their data violates their privacy in any way. Some of these rights include:
- Obtaining health care copies
- Making corrections on health information
- Individuals receive a notice on information sharing
- Obtaining a report regarding why information was shared
Having said this, a covered entity cannot use health information without a written permission. This also ensures that health information will not be used without permission. All in all, these safeguards ensure proper protection and places limits on the use of healthcare information.
References
Covered Entities and Business Associates. (2017, June 16). Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/covered-entities/index.html
Your Rights Under HIPAA. (2017, February 1). Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html
