HIPAA and Mental Health Practitioners Term Paper by Top Papers

The paper discusses how HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, focuses on several key factors that are significant to mental health practitioners. The paper explains that these include "fraud and abuse control, tax related provisions, group health plan requirements, " administrative procedures and "revenue offset provisions" ("What", 2008, sec. 1). More importantly, the paper explains that the act further concentrates on the privacy of the patient and the medical records and health information protection of that patient ("What", 2008, sec. 1). The paper explains that the intent of the act was to ensure that patients had the ability to know when and how their personal medical information was being used and set standards for the care of medical information by practitioners. The paper notes that violations of HIPAA are also focused upon in the act, mandating that those within the health care system that do not ensure the protection of medical information will be likely to receive "civil and criminal penalties" ("What", 2008, sec. 1). The paper adds that HIPAA also pertains to the use of medical records throughout the military, although historically patients connected to the military have had little say in how their information was used by military authorities ("What", 2008, sec. 1). Yet, the apper notes that HIPAA provides for such protections that are now expected to be enforced throughout all health related facilities, including mental health care institutions.