The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 ensures the privacy of patients’ identifiable health information. It does this by setting standards for the security of health information that is stored electronically, and there is a definite need for IT support as an aid to compliance with the law.
This far-reaching legislation affects nursing homes, physicians, clinics hospitals, insurers, healthcare clearinghouses, Medicare and Medicaid, Those affected by HIPAA are known as “covered entities,” and IT support for nursing home data centers is being given careful attention, perhaps for the first time in some cases.
How information must be shared
Under HIPPA, patient’s information may be shared when needed for their treatment, for billing, and for other restricted purposes. The latter includes permitting law enforcement to file reports related to gunshot wounds and to protect the public’s health when an epidemic is a
possibility. In addition, IT
support for nursing home data centers cannot be used to share this information for marketing or advertising purposes without the patient’s written consent. However, they may share thin formation with the patient’s family or others who are directly responsible for their care.
HIPAA has had a tremendous impact on delivering healthcare in regard to handling confidential information and communication of rights under the law. As electronic communication makes health information more readily available to various providers and adequate IT support to ensure that security is being preserved and regulations are being followed. Note that HIPAA regulates the amount of data recorded, information retention, communication, storage and access in the healthcare industry.
Staying within the law
From now on, it will be essential for providers, consumers and insurers to fully comprehend how to guarantee the implementation of, and compliance with, HIPAA regulations when delivering healthcare. This law’s impact will be long-lasting, and everyone involved must become familiar with the
existing policies and procedures related to their rights and responsibilities in handling consumers’ healthcare information.
