Societal Impact of HIPAA

Term Paper # 108153

A discussion on the impact of HIPAA on the United States macroeconomic system, the healthcare system, and population subgroups.

800 words () | 9 sources | MLA | 2004 United States

Paper Summary:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a significant piece of legislation that is regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This paper examines how HIPAA is expected to have a positive impact on the macroeconomic system of the healthcare industry and how the explosion of the healthcare industry in the twentieth century has lead to use of information technology which brings with it concerns about data security. The paper looks at how HIPPA should help secure healthcare data and how it will also help secure healthcare insurance access for disadvantaged subpopulations.

Outline:
Macroeconomic System
Healthcare System
Population Subgroups
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"HIPAA contains provisions relating to the portability of health insurance after termination of employment, authorizes a demonstration project of medical savings accounts (MSA) to be monitored by the Internal Revenue Service and strengthens the enforcement provisions of the federal fraud and abuse laws. The healthcare system is dramatically affected by this act in that any information that is related to a patient is considered confidential and will be protected as such. Each organization in healthcare has the responsibility to inform patients of this protective act and how it relates to the patients medical information that the healthcare organization or physician has gained by having the consumer as a patient. Each organization is then held liable for the information in which they collect. If the organization does not inform the patients, and subsequently, the patient's information is disclosed to the public, whether by accident or intention, the organization will be fined by the Office of Civil Rights."

Sample of Sources Used:

Anonymous. (2003). Report predicts strong I.T. spending. Health Data Management. 11(9) 24. Retrieved August 14, 2004 from ProQuest database.
Consumer Bill of Rights. (2004). Retrieved August 13, 2004 from http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/cbrr.htm.
Greene, J. (2003). HIPAA hangover. Hospitals & Health Networks. 77(2). 16. Retrieved August 14, 2004 from ProQuest database.
Harrison, E., Long, S., Marquis, M., and Sloan, J., (1998). Part III: Data sourced for an evaluation of HIPAA. Retrieved August 13, 2004 from Website, Http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/search/health/reports/hipabase/pt3.htm.
Kilbridge, P. (2003). The cost of HIPAA compliance. The New England Journal of Medicine. 348(15) 1423-1425. Retrieved August 14, 2004 from ProQuest.