History of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Essay

In 1996, Health Insurance Portability and business Act (HIPAA) was enacted to improve availability and continuity of wellness insurance coverage, combat fraud and ill-usage in health cargon delivery, provide access to long term c be services and simplify presidential term of health insurance by standardizing information exchange amidst healthcare organizations. This act primarily protects the covert and security of an individuals health information in response to the rapid grown of health insurance and information systems (Questions and Answers on HIPAA).Transmission standards and code placeds were included in HIPAA to standardize health-related information and to speed faster electronic data interchange (EDI) which allows exchange of information from computer to computer. The transactions and code set standards apply to patient-identifiable health information transmitted electronically. Without the need for human involvement or intervention to fill in the process, the prac titioner will be able to cut costs by eliminating third party clarification houses, administrators or billing services (Kibbe, 2001, p. 8).With the standardized information exchange, availability of patient information electronically sess be obtained with ease. To protect the security and confidentiality of this information, Privacy swayer was issued to implement the requirement of HIPAA. The major goal of the silence rule is to assure that an individuals health information is protected from un authorise access and disclosure while still allowing the exchange of information through EDI to facilitate earningss and to provide high quality health care.Individually identifiable health information, called Protected Health breeding (PHI) is any data that contains the individuals past, present or future physical or mental health, provision of health care to the individual, and the payment of such in the past, present or future. It is the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responsibility to ensure that the Privacy Rule is enforced and implemented with respect to voluntary compliance activities and civil money penalties (Office of Civil Rights, 2003).There are some instances, however, when disclosure of PHI is needed or permitted. Covered entities (health care providers, clearing houses, etc. ) may disclose protected health information to the public health authorities when public health and safety are at risk. This happens when an individual contracted a communicable disease that raises public concern.If an employee developed a work-related affection or injury and the employer requests for the employees PHI in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and early(a) similar state law, the covered entities may release information about the individual. Likewise, information for treatment procedures requiring diachronic information and provided for by several health care services is granted to the health service providers, including cons ultations and referrals between providers regarding a patient.Protected Health Information of abused, neglected or domestic violence victims may as well as be disclosed to appropriate government authorities (such as reporting suspected domestic abuse to social welfare agencies) as long as the individual gives consent to disclosure, or the disclosure is authorized by law (Office of Civil Rights, 2003). The passage and implementation of HIPAA definitely improved the conditions of health care services. unvarying transmission and code sets standards paved the way for more efficient processing system, standardizing the way physicians, health insurance and health care providers handle and exchange information.With increased efficiency, costs are decreased. As Kibbe (2001) puts it in his article, If in that locations a silver lining to the HIPAA regulations, its here. These standards can save your practice time and money. Although availableness of information is one benefit of HIPAA, P rivacy Rule protects the individuals from unauthorized disclosure of their Protected Health Information ensuring confidentiality and security of data exchanged in the process.