HIPAA, HIPAA, Hooray by Joshi - Essay Example

 This article stipulates how the HIPAA policy affects health practitioners and health providers as well. I concur with the author’s view that the HIPAA policy seeks to safeguard patients by facilitating their right to use health insurance information in proper privacy and reducing fraud and waste within the system.  I perceive the practice the same way. The implementation of the HIPAA policy is effective in health insurance management given the following aspects:

1. Electronic exchange of information, in line with code sets and transaction standards.

2. Enactment of Privacy Act to protect patients from fraud.

3. A security measure to ensure patients' information is safe from unauthorized access and use.

            The author explains the strategy undertaken by the Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement HIPAA and ensure a smooth transition in consultation with healthcare providers, legislators, and the federal government as well. The patients’ information under the HIPAA policy is to remain private and protected by HIPAA, but any non-routine use would occur after a patient authorized the use of his or her information. This mainly involves the use of a patient’s health information by an employer or availing the information for marketing principles. The rule is inclusive of all physicians and other entities who might be interested in using the patient's health information.

            The HIPAA policy resulted from the Health Insurance and Portability Act of 1966, which was tailored in line with President’s Bush proposed changes on medical privacy. The medical practitioners and providers were assigned a deadline to comply with HIPAA on 2002 October, 15. This was followed by the final version of the HIPAA policy that was released on 14 April 2003 to enhance medical privacy. The final version of the HIPAA policy required patients to acquire a written document of their doctor’s privacy rights. This is meant to assist patients in the search for an insurance plan, provider, or physician. Consequently, patients must sign to confirm receipt of the privacy recognition.

            Pharmacies are obliged to acquire patient authorization before sending them any marketing resources of whatever nature. However, medical practitioners and physicians are allowed to negotiate directly with patients on medical options. Other entities and pharmacies are prohibited from vague use of patients’ health information for marketing gains to avoid the restriction of marketing by the HIPAA policy.

            In conclusion, patients have access to their medical records and can request correction of errors that may appear on their records.