HIPAAEFFECTS OF HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION

Evaluation of the influences of HIPAA

How it affected health care system How it works as a law Changes caused on health care quality

and costs Pros and cons Issues sparked by it

Affects on Health Care

Right to keep medical information private

More ways to protect one’s records Possible issues with trust between

patient and doctor Rules and exemption for those who can

access records Results of violating HIPAA

In the beginning…HIPAAInstigation of the Law

From the official website of HIPAA Ohio, it states that HIPAA is created to fight fraudulent activities associated with medical cases. HIPAA is an amendment of an existing law which is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 who initially aim to keep health insurance as the savior of the people in all age categories, everywhere, making health insurance available and accessible regardless of the citizen’s life status and for other reasons that aims to improve the quality of health provided to everyone.

Affects on Health Care Costs

EMR system is implemented across all health care providers

Training should be given to all associated with the account

Additional expenses for the company Unified system across all health care

provider More expenses for health care providers

across the world    

Affects on Health Care Quality

Transfer of data is faster and more accurate

Patient records can be accessed by anyone at the same time

Records are now harder to use for fraudulent purposes

Records are now genuine

Support of HIPAA

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights Health care providers

Physicians, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, & and other providers

Health insurers, payers, & clearinghouses The patients

Opposition to HIPAA

Opposition related to revision of HIPAA law Example: “HIPAA-cratic Oath”

Requires the entry of personal and private information into a nationwide computer database

American Association of Physicians & Surgeons (AAPS) Weakens individuals’ ability to restrict access

to medical records Causes a shift in the relationship between

government, professional associations, & citizens

A Moral or Ethical Violation

Moral Hold violators accountable Possible criminal cases can be used against

medical professionals who will violate HIPPA

Ethical Privacy rights strike a balance If the medical information is something that

can help the public in general Example: to protect public health

A Moral or Ethical LawMoral Cares for people with health concerns Assures confidentially Promotes trust

Patient trust is sacred

Ethical Laws govern who has access to patient’s

records-provides privacy

Moral, Ethical, and Legal Issues

Conclusion

HIPAA is key to confidential and secure PHI

Health care providers benefit HIPAA is both ethical and moral Health care quality improves Employees must maintain confidentiality

References:

Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar.

HIPAA: The health insurance portability and accountability act: What RN's need to know about privacy rules and protected electronic health information. (2011). National Nurse, 107(6), 20-27. Retrieved from EBSCOhost

HIPAA Ohio. (2011). HIPAA law. Retrieved from http://hipaa.ohio.gov.hipaalinks.html

Kavanaugh, P. (2003). The new HIPAA-cratic oath for health care professionals. The Michigan Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, 13(2). Retrieved from http://www.mspp.net/acadnotes0603.html

Mason, D., Leavitt, J., & Chaffee, M. (2007). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders-Elsevier.

Pierce, P., (2007). HIPAA: Heath Insurance Portability. Retrieved from http://www.ceufast.com/courses/viewcourse.asp?id=95

U. S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2006, November 9). Why is the HIPAA privacy rule needed? Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/hipaafaq/about/188.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). Department of Health and Human Services fiscal year 2009. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/about/cj2009.pdf

References

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). HHS strengthens HIPAA enforcement. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/10/20091030a.html

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Health information privacy. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/statue/index.html

WebMD (2011). HIPAA: A few years later: Impact of HIPAA at work.

Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com