HIPPA

What is it and why should we care?

Contents:What is the purpose of HIPPA?Why is HIPPA important?What is the difference between privacy V.

security?The different Titles of HIPPAYour rights under HIPPA

HIPPA helps to improve efficiency & effectiveness of Healthcare

system by standardizing the electronic exchange of

administrative, medical & financial data.

What is the purpose of HIPPA?

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. President Bill Clinton signed it in 1996, and it is comprised of five sections. Health providers and health plans are legally required to follow this act, which includes protecting the privacy of health records and information contained in a patient's file.

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Why is HIPPA important?

From 2003-2009 HHS reported 45,630 privacy complaints. 39,545 (80%) were resolved by investigation or

enforcement. 8,918 were referred for enforcement. Source:

http://www.realtime-itcompliance.com/noncompliance_sanctions_exampl/2009/08/8918_hipaa_violation_investiga.htm

From 2005 to July 2010 153,714,412 records were breached in government, medical and academic organizations. Source: http://www.privacyrights.org/data-breach/new

In healthcare, in order to effectively practice medicine, you have to know how HIPPA affects you & your patients.

What is the difference between privacy V. security?

Privacy is securing, protecting and maintaining the confidentiality of the patients data.

Security is the methods, tools, strategy and process that is used to ensure the privacy.

The different Titles of HIPPA

Title I Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance for employees

and their dependents in the event of a job transition or unemployment. It also sets exclusions of coverage for pre-existing conditions to no more than 12 months after normal enrollment. This exclusion period can be shortened as long as continuous previous health coverage was in place prior to enrollment. Continuous coverage is defined as coverage without a break of 63 days or greater.

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Title II Title II includes the privacy rule enacted in 2003

to protect private health information held by "covered entities" such as health plans and most health providers. Rules govern which information can disclosed and address cases where child abuse is suspected.

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Title III

Title III gives employees the ability to set up health savings and flexible spending accounts. Health savings accounts allow employees to take out a set amount from their paycheck, pre-tax, to be used for co-pays, deductibles and other approved out-of-pocket expenses.

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Title IV & I The main purpose of Title IV is to ensure that

patient health information is being properly protected and that all health plan requirements are followed. Title V is directed at company life insurance plans.

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Your Rights Under HIPPA

Under HIPAA, you are entitled to request your health records at any time. You are also required to grant authorization for the review of your records by health providers, which is the HIPAA waiver you sign at most providers' offices. You are also able to file a complaint to your provider or with the U.S. government if you believe your HIPAA rights have been violated.