Hipaa Privacy Rule Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Hipaa Privacy Rule?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to protect the privacy of individuals’ health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes a federal standard for the protection of Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is any individually identifiable health information that is created, received, used or disclosed in connection with providing healthcare services, such as medical records, billing records, patient history, lab results and other similar data.The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires covered entities to protect the privacy of PHI by implementing safeguards appropriate to their size and complexity. Covered entities must develop policies and procedures to ensure that all PHI is kept confidential. These policies must explain how disclosure of PHI is restricted, how it’s authorized when necessary and how it’s monitored. They must also explain the rights of individuals regarding their own PHI. Covered entities are also required to provide training for staff on how to handle PHI appropriately. This includes explaining when it can be shared with other organizations or providers involved in an individual’s care, and when authorization is needed from the individual before sharing it outside the organization or provider network. Additionally, they must have a system in place for reviewing requests for disclosure or use of PHI by those outside the organization or provider network who do not have authorization from an individual. Any disclosures made without authorization must be reported to appropriate authorities within 60 days unless otherwise specified by law or regulation. Finally, covered entities are responsible for notifying individuals about their rights under HIPAA as well as any changes made to its policies related to access and disclosure of PHI. They should make sure that these notifications are easily accessible so that individuals can understand their rights under HIPAA and know what steps they can take if they feel like their privacy has been violated or if they would like additional information about how their personal health information may be used or disclosed.