The Health Insurance Portability Act and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA)

By: Mackenzie L.

The Health Insurance Portability Act and Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPPA, is a Federal Law that states who can and cannot look at or receive your medical records. HIPPA gives you rights over your medical records and should be explained to patients so they understand the rights given to them under the Act of 1996. Health insurance companies, health-care providers, and companies that store and destroy medical records must follow the HIPPA guidelines. If not followed you can lose your medical licenses and would no longer be able to practice medicine.

As I stated above, patients have the rights over their medical records. When I turned eighteen, I had to go to my doctors office and sign a document that gave my mom access to my medical records. As a child or anyone seventeen years or younger, your parents have access to your medical records but at eighteen you are given all rights to your records. This is HIPPA at work, protecting minors and adults.

The information protected under HIPPA is any records your doctors, nurses, and other health providers record, conversations your doctor has about your care or treatment with others, billing information about you at the clinic, and most other health information about you. These are protected by reasonably limited uses and disclosures to accomplish their purpose and set up safeguards to protect stored information on computers and in files.

HIPPA is a very important medical protection that doctors and other medical personal must follow to protect their patients. Although, this is not written into the code of ethics it seems to be a very important for medical personal and their patients to know.

Picture: http://www.dynapass.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hipaa-compliance1.jpg
Information:"Your Rights Under HIPAA." HHS.gov. Office of Civil Rights, 07 May 2008. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.