HIPAA stands fro Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This is what completely changed the landscape of healthcare in the US and made compliance a priority for all organizations working in the medical field. It is vital that workers in the medical industry know the basics of HIPAA.
HIPAA is also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act, which was mandated by law back in 1996. It was signed into law with the hopes of establishing health insurance reform and simplification of healthcare administration. HIPAA regulates health plans, billing services and community health information systems. Another very important clause of HIPAA is found in Title II where numerous offenses relating to healthcare and healthcare-related information are clearly outlined.
With the existence of HIPAA, there are now clear safeguards in place that protect both medical facilities and patients. This is a win-win situation for everyone.
