HIPAA EFFECTS OF HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION

Evaluation of the influences of HIPAA  How it affected health care system  How it works as a law  Changes caused on health care quality and costs  Pros and cons  Issues sparked by it

Affects on Health Care  Right to keep medical information private  More ways to protect one’s records  Possible issues with trust between patient and doctor  Rules and exemption for those who can access records  Results of violating HIPAA

In the beginning…HIPAA Instigation of the Law  From the official website of HIPAA Ohio, it states that HIPAA is created to fight fraudulent activities associated with medical cases. HIPAA is an amendment of an existing law which is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 who initially aim to keep health insurance as the savior of the people in all age categories, everywhere, making health insurance available and accessible regardless of the citizen’s life status and for other reasons that aims to improve the quality of health provided to everyone.

Affects on Health Care Costs  EMR system is implemented across all health care providers  Training should be given to all associated with the account  Additional expenses for the company  Unified system across all health care provider  More expenses for health care providers across the world 

Affects on Health Care Quality  Transfer of data is faster and more accurate  Patient records can be accessed by anyone at the same time  Records are now harder to use for fraudulent purposes  Records are now genuine

Support of HIPAA  Department of Health and Human Services  Office of Civil Rights  Health care providers  Physicians, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, & and other providers  Health insurers, payers, & clearinghouses  The patients

Opposition to HIPAA  Opposition related to revision of HIPAA law  Example: “HIPAA-cratic Oath” Requires the entry of personal and private information into a nationwide computer database  American Association of Physicians & Surgeons (AAPS)  Weakens individuals’ ability to restrict access to medical records  Causes a shift in the relationship between government, professional associations, & citizens

A Moral or Ethical Violation Moral  Hold violators accountable  Possible criminal cases can be used against medical professionals who will violate HIPPA Ethical  Privacy rights strike a balance  If the medical information is something that can help the public in general Example: to protect public health

A Moral or Ethical Law Moral  Cares for people with health concerns  Assures confidentially  Promotes trust  Patient trust is sacred Ethical  Laws govern who has access to patient’s records- provides privacy

Moral, Ethical, and Legal Issues Invasion of Privacy Breach of Confidentially Public Disclosure of Private facts

Conclusion  HIPAA is key to confidential and secure PHI  Health care providers benefit  HIPAA is both ethical and moral  Health care quality improves  Employees must maintain confidentiality

References: Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar. HIPAA: The health insurance portability and accountability act: What RN's need to know about privacy rules and protected electronic health information. (2011). National Nurse, 107(6), Retrieved from EBSCOhost HIPAA Ohio. (2011). HIPAA law. Retrieved from Kavanaugh, P. (2003). The new HIPAA-cratic oath for health care professionals. The Michigan Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, 13(2). Retrieved from Mason, D., Leavitt, J., & Chaffee, M. (2007). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders-Elsevier. Pierce, P., (2007). HIPAA: Heath Insurance Portability. Retrieved from U. S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2006, November 9). Why is the HIPAA privacy rule needed? Retrieved from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). Department of Health and Human Services fiscal year Retrieved from

References U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). HHS strengthens HIPAA enforcement. Retrieved from U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Health information privacy. Retrieved from WebMD (2011). HIPAA: A few years later: Impact of HIPAA at work. Retrieved from