HIPAA establishes standards to protect private health information and electronic health information. It covers protected health information, which is individually identifiable health information that is created or received by a covered entity. HIPAA applies to forms, spoken communication, emails, faxes and other media. It gives patients rights over their private health information and requires covered entities to have security measures, compliance policies, and penalties for violations or noncompliance.

1. The basics of HIPAA

2. HIPAA: What is it? HIPAA does the following:Creates standards for protecting the privacy of health information Creates standards for the security of health information Creates standards for electronic exchange of health information

3. What is Covered by hipaa?Protected Health InformationThe HIPAA privacy rule covers and sets standards for the collecting, sharing and storing of a person’s Protected Health Information, or PHI, for short. PHI is information that:Relates to past, present or future physical or mental health or condition, payments and provisions about healthcare.Identifies the individual in a personal way. Provides a reasonable basis to be used to identify the individual.Is created or received by a Covered Entity.

4. What is private health information?Protected health information (PHI) is:Individually identifiable health information Transmitted or maintained in any form or medium by a Covered Entity or its Business Associate Health information, including demographic information Relates to an individual’s physical or mental health or the provision of or payment for health care Identifies the individual

5. Types Of PHIBilling InformationMedical Insurance FormsPrescriptionsPatient Charts/Records (Paper or Electronic)

6. What does hipaa apply to?FormsSpoken CommunicationE-mailsFaxes

7. Protecting phi with hipaa means:Removal of certain identifiers so that the individual who is subject of the PHI may no longer be identified Application of statistical method or Stripping of listed identifiers such as: Names Geographic subdivisions < state All elements of dates SSNs Not discussing PHI with anyone, other than those directly responsible for providing health care (provider, clinician, technician, etc.)

8. Patient’s RightsPatients have the right to obtain and amend their PHI to: Request restrictions on uses and disclosures, Request more confidential communications, Receive an accounting of disclosures, Complain about privacy violations Use and disclosure of PHI: Patients have the right to know how their PHI Patients are entitled to know how their PHI will be used and who will receive their PHI. Patients have a right to see privacy disclosures regarding their PHI

9. Special Rules of HipaaSpecial rules for certain types of entities:Some Covered Entities have additional privacy regulations covering areas like directories, marketing and fund raising. Administrative requirements of Covered Entities may keep details record-keeping and procedural compliance issues.

10. Enforcement of hipaaThere are potential penalties and fines for noncompliance.Penalties start at $100, and can be as strict as $25,000 per yearIf an employee or patient makes a complaint, it will be investigated, and if necessary, subsequent corrective action will follow.Covered Entities or programs will have a process to receive and investigate complaints.

11. Anti-Retaliation policyRetaliation against anyone who may file a complaintis strictly prohibitedIndividuals may file a complaint with either the Covered Entity or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

12. Reasonable Physical and Technological SafeguardsTelephones – How do you know the person you are talking to is authorized to receive an employee’s PHI?Disposing of PHI – When you dispose of PHI (both hard copy and electronic) how can you be certain that it is appropriately destroyed?E-mail – How can you be sure PHI is secure when it’s sent via e-mail?Fax machines – When faxing PHI, how can you be sure the right person will read it on the other end?Mail – Sending PHI through the mail may have restrictions.Storing PHI – Safeguarding PHI on computer databases, file cabinets, even laptop computers will have to follow procedure.

13. What does this mean to you?Do not let anyone use your username and passwordLog off of your computer, when you walk away from it, Do not use anyone else’s username and passwordDo not discuss private health information of any patient outside of the care settingDo not discuss private health information of any patient with someone other than a direct care giverDo not look up any health records, unless it is a patient under your care and the information is for the purpose of providing patient careDo not look up your own private health information