HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was created to protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information. HIPAA is a federal law that was enacted in 1996, and it applies to healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. The purpose of HIPAA is to ensure that healthcare organizations protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information while allowing the sharing of that information when necessary for patient care.
History of HIPAA
In 1996, Congress enacted the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to address the issues of health insurance coverage and portability. The act established standards for the electronic exchange of healthcare information and mandated the protection of patients’ health information. The privacy and security rules were later implemented in 2003 to protect the confidentiality and integrity of electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Why was HIPAA Created?
HIPAA was created to protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information. Prior to the enactment of HIPAA, there were no federal laws regulating the use and disclosure of health information. This led to concerns about the unauthorized disclosure of patients’ health information and the potential for discrimination based on health status.
HIPAA was designed to address these concerns by creating a framework for the protection of patients’ health information. The act established standards for the electronic exchange of healthcare information and required healthcare organizations to implement measures to protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information.
HIPAA Compliance Requirements
HIPAA compliance requirements are divided into two categories: the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule. The Privacy Rule sets standards for the use and disclosure of patients’ health information, while the Security Rule sets standards for the protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI).
The Privacy Rule requires healthcare organizations to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect the privacy of patients’ health information. These safeguards include policies and procedures to restrict access to patients’ health information, training for employees on the use and disclosure of health information, and the implementation of procedures to respond to breaches of patients’ health information.
The Security Rule requires healthcare organizations to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI. These safeguards include the implementation of access controls, the use of encryption and decryption, and the implementation of policies and procedures to prevent unauthorized access to ePHI.
Darksteel Technologies can help organizations stay compliant with HIPAA regulations as compliance is a complex process that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance.