Privacy and Security
Health information technology promises a number of potential benefits for individuals, healthcare providers, and the nation’s healthcare system. It has the ability to advance clinical care, improve population health, and reduce costs. At the same time, this environment also poses new challenges and opportunities for protecting individually identifiable health information.
Federal policies and regulations are in place to help protect patient privacy and guide the nation’s adoption of health information technology.
HIPAA Basics
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is the main Federal law that protects health information. In addition to HIPAA, other federal, state, and local laws govern the privacy, security, and exchange of healthcare information.
Consumer Rights & Tools
The privacy and security of patient health information is a top priority for patients and their families, health care providers and professionals, and the government. Federal laws require many of the key persons and organizations that handle health information to have policies and security safeguards in place to protect your health information — whether it is stored on paper or electronically.
Patient Access to Health Records
Patient engagement can have big benefits for your practice and your patients: better communication, better care, and better outcomes. Health information technology (health IT) is a powerful tool to help you get there — so learn how to make it work for you.
Security Risk Assessment Tool
The tool is designed to help healthcare providers conduct a security risk assessment as required by the HIPAA Security Rule.
Top 10 Myths of Security Risk Analysis
As with any new program or regulation, there may be misinformation making the rounds. View fact from fiction.