The U. s Congress And Hipaa Benefits

The U. s Congress And Hipaa Benefits

The United States Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Affliction Act ( HIPAA ) in 1996 to secure a national standard for the electronic transfer of health data, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is a virtuous set of standards that was created for the purpose of streamlining the flow of information in the healthcare system and to protect your personal health information. It also is quite important for protecting your medical information. Underneath HIPAA, all health care providers, health plans and other health care services - - regardless of what state you live in - - must coadunate to the equivalent minimum standards for accessing and good your medical information.

When visiting a doctor or other health care efficient for the first time, you are required to complete a outline that details how your medical information will be used and yawning to others. This important benefit ensures you are aware and in control of this process, protecting you and your privacy. Your rights underneath HIPAA are very straight forward.

As explained below, you have the right to:
Confidentiality of healthcare records
Access your personal and sheltered healthcare information
Copy, amend and restrict access to your healthcare information
An examination of how your healthcare information has been ajar, and to whom
File a complaint about how your healthcare information has been used; complaints can be directed to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
HIPAA has primary penalties, both civil and criminal, for anyone violating the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

These penalties were confessed to serve as an impulse for all health care providers, health plans and other health care services to subscribe with the Privacy Edict and honor the rights of the patient. In June 2005, the U. S. Department of Sanction ( DOJ ) clarified who can be held criminally answerable underneath HIPAA. Covered entities and quintessential individuals whom " knowingly " attain or distinguish individually identifiable health information in rape of the Administrative Simplification Regulations face a fine of up to $50, 000, as well as imprisonment up to one year. Offenses committed beneath mock pretenses concede penalties to be wider to a $100, 000 fine, with up to five years in prison. Basically, offenses committed with the intent to sell, transfer, or use individually identifiable health information for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm, permit fines of $250, 000, and imprisonment for up to ten years.

In addition to monitoring how and to whom your health class is mutual, HIPAA gives you the ability to find out who has accessed your health records for the previous six years, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. And while there are some exceptions, it is an important portion of this federal law, as it establishes and protects your rights.

HIPAA regulations exploit to most health plans and to any healthcare provider who electronically transmits healthcare information. If you have any questions about your rights below HIPAA you can direct any of your questions about your doctor ' s privacy policies to your doctor or the office director.