HIPAA-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was designed to protect a patient by specifying detailed instructions on how to handle the client’s information and keeping it private. Congress adopted the federal law with specifics on letting the client know how their privacy will be protected by clearly stating how it will be used and kept, the client must receive informed consent, and the process of transferring their records.
So exactly what is the law supposed to do? Who does it protect and to what extent is this protection in place? How can one be sure that the client’s information is being protected? What can be done to protect the client if the file is ordered into court? Who can receive the information in a client’s …show more content…
There are five rules to the HIPAA: The Privacy Rule, The Transactions and Code Sets Rule, The security rule, The Unique Identifier Rule, and The Enforcement Rule. So looking at the law what does it do for the provider? This may seem like a very simple task for one to perform, but there is more to keeping something confidential than just “talking” about a person. Care must be taken that files and computer screens are not kept where anyone coming into the office can see or read any personal information.
Care also needs to be taken that when making reports that using the client 's name but instead using their initials. This is done so in order to protect the client if the documents should happen to fall in the wrong hands. The same level of care and knowledge needs to be exercised if someone calls in regards to the client’s case that the client has not given permission for discussion to be held with said individual. Information that is the personal opinion of the social worker or pertinent personal information about the client should not be added to the case notes either in case these have to be read in open court. This protects the client and the social worker by information that is not part of the care plan to be a possible breach. The provider also needs to remember that adding the client has a right to see his/her file and anything that the provider adds to the file pertaining to his/her personal opinion the client has the right to see if they
So exactly what is the law supposed to do? Who does it protect and to what extent is this protection in place? How can one be sure that the client’s information is being protected? What can be done to protect the client if the file is ordered into court? Who can receive the information in a client’s …show more content…
There are five rules to the HIPAA: The Privacy Rule, The Transactions and Code Sets Rule, The security rule, The Unique Identifier Rule, and The Enforcement Rule. So looking at the law what does it do for the provider? This may seem like a very simple task for one to perform, but there is more to keeping something confidential than just “talking” about a person. Care must be taken that files and computer screens are not kept where anyone coming into the office can see or read any personal information.
Care also needs to be taken that when making reports that using the client 's name but instead using their initials. This is done so in order to protect the client if the documents should happen to fall in the wrong hands. The same level of care and knowledge needs to be exercised if someone calls in regards to the client’s case that the client has not given permission for discussion to be held with said individual. Information that is the personal opinion of the social worker or pertinent personal information about the client should not be added to the case notes either in case these have to be read in open court. This protects the client and the social worker by information that is not part of the care plan to be a possible breach. The provider also needs to remember that adding the client has a right to see his/her file and anything that the provider adds to the file pertaining to his/her personal opinion the client has the right to see if they