The Laws That Govern Privacy And Confidentiality Of...

The laws that govern privacy and confidentiality of patients are made both at the federal and at the state level. The most significant among these laws governing patient privacy and confidentiality is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or the privacy act. The HIPAA has been the most important law that safeguards the medical documents as well its authorized disclosure. The HIPAA Act was privacy act enacted in 1996 to protect the individuals’ health information against an unlawful disclosure and use the so-called protected information. The protected information according to the United States Department of Health Human Services is the use and disclosure of patients’ health information. The Minimum necessary is a standard generally demanded health care providers to limit the use of disclosure and the accomplishment of the intended purpose for disclosure (HIPAA Privacy Procedures). The covered entity means the various health care organizations that transmit health information in electronic form in connection with transaction covered by the regulations under HIPAA. Breaches of electronic data have become a major problem, as more providers switch to electronic systems. In addition, interoperability of systems is expected to create yet more breaches, as information is traded between networks. Laptop theft is the most common type of data breach, accounting for 24 percent of reported breaches, according to HHS. Desktop computers were involved in 16Show MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Technology On The Healthcare Field1541 Words   |  7 Pagesimpacted the nursing field, it has also created huge concerns with patient privacy and sharing of protected health information leading to detrimental effects to patients and their families. Indeed, technology is changing the face of healthcare with positive innovations to reduce medication errors and documentation errors. 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