What is HIPAA (#1)?
HIPAA stands for “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act”, and it was passed by congress in 1996. The act was designed to reform healthcare in such a way that would provide protection to workers who changed or lost their jobs, ensure the confidentiality of patients medical information, and increase efficiency in the healthcare system by standardizing the processes of medical data storage and transmission (Bowers, Donna Par. 1).
What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule (#2)
The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides rules for standardizing patient healthcare information confidentiality, and lists the many rights a patient has regarding their medical information. The purpose of this rule is to set forth guidelines that all healthcare …show more content…
Basically, PHI is any information that can be used to identify a patient and is protected under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. There are restrictions on how, when, or to whom this information can be disclosed.
Disclosure of PHI (#4) Here are five examples of when PHI can be disclosed (Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule- HHS.gov, 2013):
To the individual who is the subject of the healthcare information being disclosed.
To related agencies for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations purposes. For example, a patient’s information may be sent to a billing department, or to an insurance provider to obtain premiums.
To persons whom the patient gives permission (formally or informally) to release relevant healthcare information.
To agencies in the event the release of certain private information is deemed necessary to protect others. An example might be a situation where law enforcement may be contacted to report child abuse or …show more content…
A doctor or sonographer need not obtain authorization to disclose personal health information with an interpreter on behalf of treatment of the patient. If the patient does not object, a friend or family may also receive PHI if they are acting as an interpreter for the patient (HHS.gov/hippa FAQ #760).
Discussing patient information in the workplace (#11)
A sonographer may discuss personal health information at nursing stations, in semi-private rooms or in areas where others may potentially hear the conversation as long as “reasonable precautions are taken to minimize the chance of incidental disclosures to others who may be nearby” (HHS.org/hipaa -FAQ #196). Reasonable precautions may be things like a sonographer lowering his/her voice, or moving away from other people to have the conversation.
Soundproofing and electronic disclosure (#12-13)
Soundproofing of medical offices or exam rooms is not required (HHS.gov/hipaa FAQ #197), and a sonographer may send PHI over fax, email, or the phone for treatment purposes, as long safeguards are used (HHS.gov/hipaa FAQ
HIPAA stands for “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act”, and it was passed by congress in 1996. The act was designed to reform healthcare in such a way that would provide protection to workers who changed or lost their jobs, ensure the confidentiality of patients medical information, and increase efficiency in the healthcare system by standardizing the processes of medical data storage and transmission (Bowers, Donna Par. 1).
What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule (#2)
The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides rules for standardizing patient healthcare information confidentiality, and lists the many rights a patient has regarding their medical information. The purpose of this rule is to set forth guidelines that all healthcare …show more content…
Basically, PHI is any information that can be used to identify a patient and is protected under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. There are restrictions on how, when, or to whom this information can be disclosed.
Disclosure of PHI (#4) Here are five examples of when PHI can be disclosed (Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule- HHS.gov, 2013):
To the individual who is the subject of the healthcare information being disclosed.
To related agencies for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations purposes. For example, a patient’s information may be sent to a billing department, or to an insurance provider to obtain premiums.
To persons whom the patient gives permission (formally or informally) to release relevant healthcare information.
To agencies in the event the release of certain private information is deemed necessary to protect others. An example might be a situation where law enforcement may be contacted to report child abuse or …show more content…
A doctor or sonographer need not obtain authorization to disclose personal health information with an interpreter on behalf of treatment of the patient. If the patient does not object, a friend or family may also receive PHI if they are acting as an interpreter for the patient (HHS.gov/hippa FAQ #760).
Discussing patient information in the workplace (#11)
A sonographer may discuss personal health information at nursing stations, in semi-private rooms or in areas where others may potentially hear the conversation as long as “reasonable precautions are taken to minimize the chance of incidental disclosures to others who may be nearby” (HHS.org/hipaa -FAQ #196). Reasonable precautions may be things like a sonographer lowering his/her voice, or moving away from other people to have the conversation.
Soundproofing and electronic disclosure (#12-13)
Soundproofing of medical offices or exam rooms is not required (HHS.gov/hipaa FAQ #197), and a sonographer may send PHI over fax, email, or the phone for treatment purposes, as long safeguards are used (HHS.gov/hipaa FAQ