Michelle Carr AU MHA690 March 6, 2014

1. Key Points About
Confidentiality
Michelle Carr
AU MHA690
Instructor David Cole
March 6, 2013

2. HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act
• -established in 1996
• -most important Federal legislation affecting healthcare industry
• --protects a patient’s health information
• -identifies and protects health information

3. • HIPPA privacy policy holds each person accountable for their uses of
health information
• Fines, penalties, and consequences exist for breaches of
confidentiality
• Agencies can be sued for misuse of health information

4. • Patient’s medical and personal information should be kept private:
• -do not discuss medical information in public places
• -keep all information secure by use of passwords
• -lock computers when not in use
• -keep paper records out of sight of unauthorized individuals
• -do not discuss health information without patient’s consent

5. • Confidentiality breaches should be reported as soon as possible:
• -to managers or supervisors
• -to HIPAA compliance officers
• - the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services

6. Health Information should be protected
-at all times
-by all parties with access to health information
-in all agencies
-by password security
-and tracked and monitored for breaches

7. Source:
• Simkin, M. G., & Yamamura, J. H. (2003). What businesses should
know about HIPAA. The CPA Journal, 73(10), 44-49. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/212285315?accountid=32521