Education and training are key to staff aware of the meaning of confidentiality and privacy of patient information at health care facilities. It is essential for all personnel trained and educated on privacy, confidentiality and HIPAA policies frequently at least twice a year.

1.  By MariaJulia Frank
 Instructor: Dr. Cole
 September 26, 2013

2.  Is the right of an individual to have personal,
identifiable medical information kept private.
 Health care information must be available only
to the physician of record, health care and
insurance personnel as necessary.
 As of 2003, patient confidentiality was
protected by federal statute.

3.  Privacy means, respecting an individual’s right
to be free from unauthorized or unreasonable
intrusion, including control over the extent,
timing and circumstances of obtaining personal
information from or about them.
 For example, individuals may not want to be
seen entering a place that might stigmatize
them, such as a clearly-identified pregnancy
counseling center.

4.  Sexual attitudes, preferences or practices
 Use or treatment for alcohol, drugs or other
addictive products
 Illegal conduct
 Information which if released could reasonably
cause stigmatization or discrimination, or
result in damage to areas such as financial
well-being, employability, or reputation.
 Certain health information, including
psychological or mental health.

5.  The Privacy Rule protects the privacy of health
information; it says who can look at and
receive your health information, and also gives
you specific rights over that information. In
addition, the Patient Safety Act and Rule
establish a voluntary reporting system to
enhance the data available to assess and
resolve patient safety and health care quality
issues and provides confidentiality protections
for patient safety concerns.

6.  ACA builds upon HIPAA with new and
expanded provisions, including requirement to
adopt operating rules for each of the HIPAA
covered transactions
 A unique, standard Health Plan Identifier; and
a standard for electronic funds transfer
 ACA requires that health plans certify their
compliance with the standards and operating
rules, and increases penalties for
noncompliance.

7.  Confidentiality
 Privacy
 Sensitive Information
 HIPAA
 ACA

8.  AMA. (2013). HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-
managing-your-practice/coding-billing-insurance/hipaahealth-
insurance-portability-accountability-act.page?