Confidentiality

Question 1

HIPAA stands for…

Answer 1

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (enacted 1996, enforced by Office for Civil Rights)

Question 2

HIPAA protects…

Answer 2

medical records, conversations about care, information in computer systems, billing information, most health information

Question 3

HIPAA must be followed by…

Answer 3

insurance companies, HMOs, company health plans, government programs (Medicaid and Medicare), doctors, clinics, hospitals, psychologists, chiropractors, nursing homes, pharmacies, dentists, entities that process health information

Question 4

HIPAA isn’t followed by…

Answer 4

life insurers, employers, workers’ compensation carriers, schools, state agencies, law enforcement agencies, municipal offices

Question 5

Entities follow HIPAA by…

Answer 5

placing safeguards to protect health information, limiting uses and disclosures of information to the minimum necessary amount, implementing procedures and training on confidentiality

Question 6

HIPAA gives patients the right to…

Answer 6

see copies of health records, correct health information, notifications of how information is used, decide whether or not information can be used, receive reports on what is shared and why, file complaints if rights are violated

Question 7

consent

Answer 7

patient permission (not required)

Question 8

authorization

Answer 8

permission to share any information (required)