Monthly Archives: November 2010
What to do when you face a HIPAA violation?
HIPAA violation can be anything including the publication of any medical records, such as on the Internet, unauthorized access to medical records by employees or outside personnel, unauthorized release of medical information to a patient’s employer or the sale of an individual’s medical records. If you feel that your privacy under HIPAA has been violated, … Continue reading
Knowing about how Privacy Rule applies to the Business Associates
By law, the Privacy Rule applies only to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and certain health care providers. In today’s health care system, however, most health care providers and health plans do not carry out all of their health care activities and functions by themselves; they require assistance from a variety of contractors and other … Continue reading
Analyzing the effects of HIPAA on research activities
The enactment of the Privacy and Security Rules has caused major changes in the way physicians and medical centers operate. The complex legalities and potentially stiff penalties associated with HIPAA, as well as the increase in paperwork and the cost of its implementation, were causes for concern among physicians and medical centers. HIPAA restrictions on … Continue reading
Pathology reports containing PHI found dumped in the recycling trash
Records from four Massachusetts area hospitals, (Carney Hospital, Holyoke Medical Center, Milford Regional Medical Center and Milton Hospital), were found amongst the piles of domestic trash, compromising sensitive PHI of thousands of patients. These records included pathology reports from 2007 to early 2010, which had the names, addresses, dates of birth, diagnoses, insurance policy numbers … Continue reading
Knowing about Breach Notification under HIPAA
Covered providers and business associates need to be aware of the requirements under state and federal breach notification laws. Breach means the unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of “unsecured” PHI (which includes demographic information) that poses a significant risk of financial, reputational, or other harm to the patient. According to HHS’s Breach Notification Guidance, … Continue reading
How to manage access to critical data to protect privacy?
Protecting intellectual property and confidential personal, financial, and business information is a business priority, and often a legal requirement. To secure their data and ensure that only authorized people have access to it, organizations use a variety of access management disciplines. Access management includes identity management solutions that control permissions for critical data stores by … Continue reading
What are the computer regulations under HIPAA Security Rules?
With the growing use of technology, government also needed to ensure HIPAA compliance in the use of computers also. HIPAA computer regulations fall under the HIPAA security rules and health care providers have to follow HIPAA guidelines when transmitting personal health information in electronic format. Here are some regulations which need to be followed by … Continue reading
Do the absentee ballot forms for Lancaster residents violate HIPAA?
The issue of HIPAA Privacy Rules being violated was raised when in Lancaster County, PA, absentee ballot forms were to be filled by the Lancaster residents. People protested that the county’s absentee ballot forms violated HIPAA privacy rules as the forms required them to fill in details of the exact nature of the medical condition … Continue reading