Week 2 Discussion Question 1
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* Identify the problems associated with patient confidentiality * Discuss the purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. * Describe the information to which the Privacy Rule refers and how it applies to your profession. * Discuss the penalties for noncompliance with HIPAA. * Discuss electronic medical record (EMR) and its importance.
Answers:
1) The disclosure of personal information could cause professional or personal problems; patients rely on physicians to keep their medical information private. It is rare for medical records to remain completely sealed, however. The most benign breach of confidentiality takes place when clinicians share medical information as case studies. When this data is published in professional journals the identity of the patient is never divulged, and all identifying data is either eliminated or changed. If this confidentiality is breached in any way, patients may have the right to sue.

2) In the year of1996 the Health Insurance portability and Accountability Act requires all professionals and organizations to guard the privacy of their patients and customers. Individuals must provide written consent for any and all releases of medical or health-related information. Employees at all levels are required to maintain confidentiality. Similar policies have been in place for some time. This was a requirement of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to maintain accreditation. All confidentiality releases must identify the types of information that can be released, the people or groups that have been permitted access to the information, and limit the length of time for which the release is valid.

3) Medical billers and coders must take particular care to safeguard personal health information as directed by the