WHO DOES HIPAA AFFECT?
HIPAA is a regulation that affects the entire health care system from patients to employers, health plans, physician offices, hospitals, optometric offices, dental offices, billing companies, healthcare clearing houses and other entities providing healthcare treatment. This not only includes clinical patients but research subjects and health information in student records, etc. What is the scope of HIPAA? HIPAA affects the privacy and security of protected health information. Why do you need to know about HIPAA? HIPAA is federal law. It requires all health personnel to be educated about HIPAA policies and procedures. It includes anyone who does or might have access to any patient information. ALL IU School of Optometry faculty, staff, and students must complete the training. What will be covered in this module? Information about HIPAA and how it influences policy, procedures, and your job duties in regards to patient health information security. HIPAA’s main areas of standards • The tr
• Health insurers • Doctors • Hospitals • Employers who provide health insurance • Life insurers • Anyone who uses health care or health insurance • Public health authorities • Billing agencies • Information system vendors • Health service organizations back to top What will HIPAA change? HIPAA is an extensive law made up of five titles with many complexities. Numerous regulations are still under development and are not final. The four main areas of focus are administrative simplification, fraud and abuse, insurance reform and HIPAA companion legislation. back to top Administrative simplification Administrative simplification is broken down into several sections. • Electronic health transaction standards and code sets – The implementation of a national standard for transmitting health data electronically and the use of standard code sets that describe diseases, injuries and other health problems. • Unique identifiers* – A system that uses one identification number per employer, health
