Week 3 Assignment
The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides new legislation
designed to enhance the information security component of HIPAA. The
legislation that was passed is known as HITECH. In a 1 – 2 page paper, using
APA style formatting, discuss the fundamental basics of HIPAA and identify
those areas in which HITECH either strengthens existing HIPAA legislation or
adds new components.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 introduced the Healthcare Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which aimed to improve the information security component of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In this paper, we will discuss the fundamental basics of HIPAA and identify the areas where HITECH strengthens HIPAA or introduces new components.
Answer:
HIPAA is a set of rules and regulations implemented in 1996 to safeguard the privacy and security of patients’ health information. HIPAA sets standards for the storage, transmission, and sharing of e-protected health information (e-PHI). It also outlines safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of e-PHI.
HITECH enhances the HIPAA rules and addresses the emerging security risks associated with the use of electronic health records. HITECH expands the types of organizations subject to HIPAA regulations and mandates new security requirements. For instance, HITECH requires organizations to report any breaches of unsecured PHI to the Department of Health and Human Services and affected individuals. It also mandates that covered entities and business associates must implement technical safeguards to secure e-PHI and conduct regular risk assessments.
Moreover, HITECH imposes penalties on organizations that violate HIPAA rules, which encourages compliance with the regulations. HITECH grants state attorneys general a greater role in enforcing HIPAA rules, making it more challenging for organizations to ignore the regulations.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, HIPAA is a set of regulations that define how organizations handle sensitive patient information. HITECH strengthens and expands these regulations, ensuring that organizations implement safeguards to protect sensitive patient information. HITECH’s mandate that organizations report breaches of unsecured PHI, impose penalties on violators, and grant state attorneys general a greater role in enforcing HIPAA rules has improved patient data protection and ensured greater accountability among organizations that handle sensitive patient information.
