Glossary
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a significant piece of legislation in the United States that has far-reaching implications in the healthcare sector. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA is a federal law that was designed to provide privacy standards to protect patient's medical records and other health information provided to health plans, doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers.
Primary purpose of HIPAA:
Protect the confidentiality and security of healthcare information
Give patients greater control over their health data
HIPAA:
Is a comprehensive law that covers several aspects of healthcare administration
Sets a national standard for electronic healthcare transactions
Addresses the security and privacy of health data
Aims to simplify the administration of health insurance
Prevent healthcare fraud and abuse
It is divided into several titles or sections
Each address a unique aspect of health insurance reform
When most people refer to HIPAA, they are referring to Title II, which outlines the policies and procedures for maintaining the privacy and the security of individually identifiable health information
In conclusion, HIPAA has provided a national standard for the protection of personal health information, ensuring that patients have more control over their health data. As a result, HIPAA has played a crucial role in the protection of patient privacy and the security of health information.