Health Insurance Accountability History

In this paper, I will be discussing the history and guidelines of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also known as Public Law 104-191, was enacted on August 21, 1996. When numerous complaints from patients arose about not being able to continue to pay premiums to the same insurance company when they changed employers, the US Congress passed a law. That law was known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA was also known as the Public Law 104-191 of 1996. The law was created to seek improvements in the efficiency and the effectiveness of the health care system through insurance reform. In addition, the law also made administrative …show more content…
Covered Entities include health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and all or any healthcare provider. Covered Entities conduct certain healthcare transactions electronically. Individual and group plans that provide or pay the cost of medical care are a Covered Entity. Every health care provider who electronically transmits private health information is a Covered Entity. Health Care Clearinghouses process nonstandard private health information they receive from another entity into a standard format or data content. Clearinghouses are a Covered Entity. The Privacy Rule protects all covered entities that use or work with (PHI) Private Health …show more content…
Also being aware of my steps to protect my physicians’ clinic from a lawsuit. I will be very attentive in accuracy of my documentation. Attention to detail is crucial in my duties as a Medical Assistant as well as protecting patient information. As a Medical Assistant, I will always seek to respect the rights of patients and safeguard their PHI. In doing so, I will be sure to not release my patients’ private health information improperly. Always making sure to have a signed release form in the patients chart. When using a computer in the office, I will be sure to face it away from public viewing when accessing PHI. I will be sure to log out and lock the computer according to the clinic policies and guidelines. I will be sure to not leave private health information on any answering service. I will be sure always to check for a current signed release of information form before I make a referral in a patients file. I will be very diligent in my documentation paying attention to accuracy and document every encounter with the patient. Making sure I use the correct codes for coding and protecting that information. To safeguard my patients, I will be sure never to practice outside my scope of training. I will never make promises to a patient regarding what the doctor can or will do for them. My employer is legally responsible for my actions. I will never divulge