HIPAA means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. When I hear people talking about HIPAA, they don’t usually talk about the original law. They talk about the privacy rule issued after HIPAA in the form of a notice of medical information.
The official review of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ HIPAA Privacy Policy takes 25 pages, and this is just a summary of the main provisions. As you can imagine, this applies to many issues. Here I want to offer you a summary of the basics of the privacy rule.
When the privacy rule came into force in 1996, it established guidelines for protecting information about human health. The guide is designed to protect a person’s medical records while allowing the disclosure of the necessary information in the provision of medical care and the protection of public health and well-being. In other words, not everyone can see a person’s medical records. However, if you want someone, such as a health care provider, to see your data, you can sign a permit that will give you access to your data.
So, what is your medical information and where does it come from? Your medical information is stored or passed on by insurance plans, health information centers and health care providers. They are referred to in the terms of the rule as protected organizations.
The guidelines also apply to so-called business partners in health insurance plans, health information centres and health care providers. Business partners are legal entities that provide legal, actuarial, accounting, advisory, aggregation, management, administrative, accreditation or financial services.
So, what does a typical privacy statement include?
The type of information your health plan collects.
Description of what is included in your medical card/information.
Summary of your rights to medical information.
The responsibilities of a collective health plan.
Information collected by your health insurance plan:
The group care plan collects the following types of information to provide benefits:
The information you provide to your plan to join the plan, including personal information such as your address, phone number, date of birth, and Social Security number.
Plan contributions and account balance.
The fact that you have signed or been signed to plans.
Health information you have received from your doctors or other health care providers.
Information about your health, including diagnosis and payment information on claims
Changes in the plan’s registration (e.g., adding or deleting a member, adding or removing fees).
Pension benefits.
Evaluation of complaints.
A case of medical care.
Other information about you that we need to provide you with medical benefits.
Review of your medical card/information:
Your visit is recorded every time you visit a hospital, doctor or other health care provider. This record usually includes your symptoms, examinations and tests, diagnoses, treatment and a plan for future care or treatment.
This information, often referred to as your medical record or health record, is:
The basis for planning your care and treatment.
A communication tool between many health professionals who contribute to your treatment.
A legal document describing the assistance you received.
Your rights to health information:
Although your health card is the physical property of the plan, the health care provider, or the institution that created it, that information belongs to you. You have the right to:
Request a restriction on otherwise permitted use and disclosure of your information for processing, payment and health care purposes, as well as disclosure to family members for health care purposes.
Get a paper copy of this information notification on request, even if you have agreed to receive an electronic notification.
Examine and receive a copy of your medical card by sending a written request to a privacy plan employee.
Change your medical card by sending a written request to a privacy plan officer, stating the reason for supporting the request.
Get your medical disclosure report for the past six years by sending a written request to your privacy plan officer.
Request disclosure of your health in other ways or elsewhere.
Revoke your consent to use or disclose health information if no action has been taken.
Group health insurance responsibilities:
Group health insurance is required for:
Keep your medical information private.
To provide you with this notice of the plan’s legal obligations (TM) and the privacy policy regarding the information collected and stored about you.
Follow the terms of this notice.
Find out if the plan can accommodate the requested restriction.
Respond to reasonable requests that you may have to pass on medical information one at a time or elsewhere. The plan restricts access to personal information about you only to people who need this information to manage the plan and its benefits. The plan will support physical, electronic and procedural security measures in accordance with federal regulations to protect your personal information. In accordance with privacy standards, persons who have access to information about the plans are required to:
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.