Why Medical Businesses Must Adhere to HIPAA Regulations

Actress Farrah Fawcett is known for her television and film roles, but recently she made headlines when it was discovered that information about her health problems had been sold to the tabloids. While it can be argued that a celebrity yields the right to some privacy, the act of selling Ms. Fawcett's medical information to a third party violated a Federal law. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996 to prevent unauthorized access to patient information, and it is something by which all medical-related businesses should abide.

Who Recognizes HIPAA?

If you work for a company that collects health information from individuals, you are what HIPPA calls a "covered entity", and as such you must abide by this law. Covered entities include the following:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Insurance Companies dealing with health and medical policies
• Private Practices - General practitioners and specialists, dentists, chiropractors, etc.
• Psychiatrists and Psychologists
• Medical Billing Centers and Collection Agencies

Whether you have two people are two hundred working in the office, the security of patient information is important.

Data Protected by HIPAA

Patients visiting a clinic or hospital should be assured of discretion. It's imperative for all employees to make sure sensitive data is not compromised and exposed to unauthorized people. Medical information protected by these Federal laws include and are not limited to:

• Prescription Information
• Medical History Records
• Appointment Logs
• Phone and Voice Mail Message Notes
• Insurance Forms and Claims
• Billing Information

Adhering to HIPAA Standards

When patient information is outdated or no longer necessary, the paperwork should be destroy so as to protect that patient's right to privacy. Any company or organization complying with HIPAA regulations should be prepared to destroy documents accordingly. Every sticky note, every printout needs to be shredded thoroughly. Simply throwing away papers does not guarantee security - as any unscrupulous person could sift through the garbage and have access to credit card numbers and addresses. Hiring a professional to destroy documents is a good way to ensure your security as well.

Taking care to note the HIPAA regulations applicable to your medical business will give you the peace of mind you need to operate smoothly.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach shredding companies and Virginia Beach jobs.