The U. s Congress And Hipaa Benefits

The U. s Congress And Hipaa Benefits

The United States Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Task Act ( HIPAA ) in 1996 to erect a national standard for the electronic transfer of health data, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is a blameless 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 mortally important for protecting your medical information. Subservient HIPAA, all health care providers, health plans and other health care services - - regardless of what state you live in - - must tag on to the alike minimum standards for accessing and utility your medical information.

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

As explained below, you have the right to:
Confidentiality of healthcare records
Access your personal and defended healthcare information
Copy, amend and restrict access to your healthcare information
An examination of how your healthcare information has been exposed, 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 specific penalties, both civil and criminal, for anyone violating the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

These penalties were confessed to serve as an sweet tooth for all health care providers, health plans and other health care services to concur with the Privacy Order and adoration the rights of the patient. In June 2005, the U. S. Department of Rule ( DOJ ) clarified who can be held criminally explicable subservient HIPAA. Covered entities and all-important individuals whom " knowingly " procure or learn individually identifiable health information in irruption of the Administrative Simplification Regulations face a fine of up to $50, 000, as well as imprisonment up to one year. Offenses committed unbefitting bogus pretenses concede penalties to be too many to a $100, 000 fine, with up to five years in prison. In future, 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 position is returned, 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 advance 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.