Post #3 TIL-HIPAA

Today I Learned- HIPAA

            Today in health systems orientation I learned about HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act. The three main points of HIPAA that I learned today are who oversees it, what is a breach and its penalties, and the key phrases. The government is in charge of overseeing HIPAA specifically the DHHS or the Department of Health and Human Services. They are in charge of sending the medical information or records between hospitals and different health care professionals. If a breach in HIPAA is made the DHHS will take care of it. A breach is a violation in the privacy of a patient. The maximum fine for a breach in HIPAA is $50,000 and the minimum is $100. Also they can be charged with 1 year in prison if HIPAA is violated on purpose or criminal. Health care professionals can also be blacklisted from the business for breaking HIPAA.

We also learned about key phrases used when dealing with HIPAA. Examples include Need to know which means only those working on that case can know the personal medical information. Then there is PHI protected health information and ePHI electronic personal health information. This includes paper files and files that are downloaded on to the computer or IPad. This also includes official consent which is a signature that consents for a person to hear the private medical information. HIPPA is important in the medical field because the patients need to know that they can trust their doctors and health care providers. The health care professionals need to be accountable to not go and tell patients medical information. This is why HIPAA is so important and why it was put in place so it could protect people’s privacy.