Question

write a 500- to 1,000-word summary about HIPPA violations as it relates the healthcare quality in the United States. Use of source material is expected for this post.

Answer 1

HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability an Accountability Act was introduced in the year 1996. Its main purpose is to protect the health information of every individual, prevent fraud, and ensure that every employee maintains health coverage. This act has certain standards and rules and violation of these include different kinds of penalties based on the severity. It applies for individuals both professionals. Every individual in the health care sector should be aware of this act. Every individual has the right to keep their health information confidential and it is every other individual right to protect it. Unless and until the third person is given the right to know about the information it should not be leaked in either ways which could lead to violation of rules thus leading to certain punishments/penalties HIPPA includes maintaining the confidentiality of PHI(Protected Health Information). This PHI includes, patient’s name, age, sex, SSN, address, contact information, insurance plan and medical history of the patient. All this data is very sensitive and has to be protected. Few of the HIPPA violations include the following:

• Sharing of PHI(protected health information) without permission from the authorities
• Release of PHI information to individuals who are not authorized to know it
• Failure to maintain confidentiality of the PHI
• Leaving the PHI information unlocked in the systems thus giving an opportunity to the unauthorized individuals to access it
• Sending/mailing unprotected files with PHI
• Disclosing PHI without patient’s permission
• Improper PHI disposal-Not shredding paper documents containing PHI and leaving them open
• Failure to terminate access rights to PHI when it is not required
• Not providing training sessions on HIPPA rules and its violations
• Failure in providing the PHI information/copies when requested by the patient

These violations could be avoided by educating or providing training sessions to individuals on how to protect the information. Penalties for violation HIPPA include:

• Fine of $50,000 with one year in prison
• Fine of $100,000 with five years in prison
• Fine of $250,000 with ten years in prison

Based on the severity of violation individuals would be charged with different penalties. Apart from the quality services being provided practice of HIPPA act, following and implementing its standards and rules also determine the quality of a health care organization.

Note: There are many sites which provide information on HIPPA. Among the many two sources that could be referred to are

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html

https://www.hipaajournal.com/what-is-a-hipaa-violation/