HIPAA

HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT [HIPAA]

1996 federal law providing safeguards to protect confidential medical information.

It also protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs.

It also helps the healthcare industry control administrative costs.

Most importantly, the HIPAA privacy rule or PHI (Protected Health Information) protects patient record confidentiality including any information held by a covered entity which concerns health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual (other than for facilitating treatment or payment). Any other disclosure of PHI (Protected Health Information) requires the covered entity to obtain written authorization from the individual for the disclosure.

HIPAA remains largely intact although the ACA expanded support for administrative technology. Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016