Electronic medical records have been becoming increasingly common in the health care industry. As a result, the issues that surround the confidentiality of a patient’s medical record have come into question. Identify and discuss the major law that governs patient privacy and discuss how it can affect an electronic medical record.
Please submit your assignment.
Download UB04.
CMS1450 also known as UB04 (fka UB92) is the primary form associated with hospital in-patient coding/billing. Whether hard copy or electronic in nature the requirements for completion are the same regarding CPT/HCPCS codes and ICD-9 diagnosis codes.
Download CMS1500.
CMS1500 (fka HCFA1500) is the primary form associated with out-patient coding/billing. Again, whether hard copy or electronic in nature the requirements for completion are the same regarding CPT/HCPCS codes and ICD-9 diagnosis codes.
Please note that we don't do students' homework for them. Be sure to go back into your textbook or use a good search engine. http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
Once YOU have come up with attempted answers to YOUR questions, please re-post and let us know what you think. Then someone here will be happy to comment on your thinking.
Have you EVER read HIPAA? Try reading it, if you are a Penn Foster student it should be in one of your very first books; maybe Law And ethics?
Title: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its Implications for Electronic Medical Records
Introduction:
Electronic medical records (EMRs) have revolutionized the healthcare industry by enabling healthcare providers to store, manage, and exchange patient data efficiently. However, with this digitalization comes concerns over the confidentiality and privacy of patient information. To address these concerns, the U.S. government enacted a major law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This paper will discuss the major law that governs patient privacy and how it affects electronic medical records.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA):
HIPAA was signed into law in 1996 and its primary goal is to protect the privacy and security of patient health information. It sets national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information and establishes patients' rights to control and access their own medical records.
HIPAA's Impact on Electronic Medical Records:
1. Privacy and confidentiality: HIPAA requires healthcare providers to implement safeguards to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients' electronic medical records. This includes measures such as restricted access, secure storage, and encrypted transmission of patient data. Only authorized individuals involved in patient care or other approved purposes can access and use the information.
2. Consent and disclosure: HIPAA mandates that healthcare providers obtain patient consent before using or disclosing their medical information for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. In the context of EMRs, patients have the right to know who can access their records and how their information will be used.
3. Access and amendment: HIPAA provides patients with the right to request and obtain copies of their electronic medical records. Healthcare providers must give patients access to their records within 30 days of the request. Additionally, patients have the right to request corrections or amendments to their records if they believe the information is inaccurate or incomplete.
4. Breach notification: HIPAA requires healthcare providers to notify patients if there is a breach or unauthorized disclosure of their electronic medical records. The notification must occur without unreasonable delay and include information about the nature of the breach and steps patients can take to mitigate potential harm.
5. Business associate agreements: HIPAA mandates that healthcare providers enter into business associate agreements with any entity that handles patient information on their behalf. These agreements ensure that business associates also adhere to HIPAA's privacy and security requirements when dealing with patient data.
Conclusion:
In summary, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the major law governing patient privacy and its implications for electronic medical records are significant. HIPAA's provisions protect the privacy and security of patients' electronic medical records, ensure their access to their own health information, and hold healthcare providers accountable for safeguarding patient data. As EMRs continue to be adopted widely, compliance with HIPAA is crucial to maintain patients' trust and protect their private medical information.