HIPAA and Medical Privacy

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the impact that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has had on patients' access to their own health records. The paper explains that the Act defines exactly what can and cannot be revealed to outside parties, while clarifying the patient's own access rights. The paper also explains that HIPAA requires certain written policies and procedures while the HIPAA Privacy Rule provides that all relevant employees and volunteers who work for a HIPAA-controlled agency must be properly trained according to their role in the enterprise. The paper concludes that HIPAA has standardized privacy practices in the healthcare arena and this will assist in resolving disputes and have a positive impact on healthcare provider/patient relations.

Outline:
Introduction
Patient Access
Permitted Uses
Written Privacy Policies
Training
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 and applies to largely to health care privacy and security standards, along with other initiatives. With regard to privacy, it has defined exactly what can and cannot be revealed to outside parties, while clarifying the patient's own access rights. While allowing for the varying kinds of entities covered by the act along with changing technology expectation, it sets scalable standards that can be adapted by all kinds of organizations. Documentation and education standards will help assure that all patients are treated fairly and equitably under the new laws. Sanctions will be put in place both by the covered entities with regard to their own business associates, as well as within the laws with regard to the covered entities."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gue, D'Arcy Guerin. Training - The First and Last Word in Privacy Compliance. October 2003. HIPAA Prime. July 2005. Retrieved February 26, 2008 from
• Grove, Tom. Summary Analysis: The Final HIPAA Security Rule. February, 2003.
• US Department of Health & Human Services. Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. n.d.

More papers on HIPAA and Medical Privacy:

• Term Paper # 142323 : "HIPAA and Mental Health Practitioners"
• Analytical Essay # 123686 : "Health Care and Patient Privacy"
• Analytical Essay # 111000 : "HIPAA Standards and Patient Privacy"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: