HIPAA Overview and History

This rule protects all identifiable health information (PHI) held or transmitted by covered entities, including electronic, paper, or oral formats.

This rule safeguards electronic protected health information (ePHI) by setting requirements for administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.

These are organizational and managerial practices that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI.

These are physical measures like locked doors, security cameras, and access controls that protect ePHI from unauthorized physical access.

These are technological measures designed to protect ePHI, such as encryption, access controls, and data integrity mechanisms.

This rule is implemented to prevent fraud and abuse in the healthcare system, promoting transparency and accountability.

This part of HIPAA promotes national standards for electronic health data exchange, creating identifiers for providers, employers, and insurers.

This part of HIPAA provides guidelines for group health plans, outlining modifications related to health coverage.

Regulations ensuring the safety of buildings and equipment against natural disasters, security breaches, and unauthorized access.

A set of guidelines that define acceptable behavior while using computer systems and accessing electronic health information (ePHI).

A comprehensive document outlining an organization's approach to managing and protecting electronic health information.

Training programs designed to educate all employees about HIPAA regulations, data security practices, and the importance of protecting patient privacy.

A covered entity is allowed to disclose protected health information (PHI) to individuals who are the subjects of that information.

A covered entity can use and disclose PHI for internal operations, like treatment, billing, and healthcare management.

Code sets are standardized vocabularies used for classifying medical diagnoses and procedures in electronic health transactions.

A covered entity must provide patients with a record of all the disclosures of their PHI made outside of TPO.

Using the approved fax cover sheet ensures compliance with GRIC policies, protecting sensitive information.

Connecting external devices to the system poses a security risk, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Confirming and verifying the recipient's information before sending ensures the fax reaches the intended party, preventing data breaches.

Using a dedicated workspace and not sharing your system with others protects patient information from unauthorized access.

Verifying pre-programmed numbers and email addresses before sending ensures that the information reaches the intended recipient, preventing misdirection.

Logging off or locking your system when you leave your desk prevents unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Notifying the recipient before sending allows them to be prepared to receive the fax or email, making the process more secure.

Reporting any violation or breach immediately allows for prompt action to mitigate potential damage and protect patient information.

The technical measures put in place to protect computer systems, networks, programs, services, and data from unauthorized access or attacks.

It safeguards all types of data against theft and damage.

Email addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones, often used in phishing attacks.

Unexpected attachments in emails can be a sign of a cyber threat. Use the 'Preview' option to check the attachment before opening it.

Report any potential HIPAA violation or breach to the GRIC team immediately.

A formal agreement between a covered entity and a business associate that outlines their responsibilities for protecting patient health information. It defines the scope of the business associate's work and the safeguards they must implement.

A violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule that compromises the security or privacy of protected health information. This could be unauthorized disclosure, access, or use.

A major set of regulations introduced under the HIPAA Omnibus Rule that aims to hold business associates directly accountable for protecting patient health information.

A legal requirement for covered entities and business associates to notify patients about a breach that affects their protected health information. This includes informing individuals, the media (if applicable), and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

A process for evaluating the severity of a potential or actual breach using four key factors: the amount of data accessed, the likelihood of harmful use, the nature of the data, and the extent of the breach's impact. This process is crucial in determining the appropriate response to a breach.

Techniques used to prevent unauthorized disclosure of patient health information. These include practices like using encryption, secure email protocols, and proper faxing procedures.

A form of data security that involves scrambling or converting data into an unreadable format, making it secure and accessible only to authorized users with the correct decryption key.

A type of email that uses secure protocols and encryption to protect sensitive information, ensuring only authorized recipients with the correct credentials can access the message.

This tier of violations involves intentional neglect or misconduct that directly causes harm to individuals. Penalties are severe, ranging from fines exceeding $63,973 to potential imprisonment.

This tier deals with violations where individuals or organizations knowingly engage in harmful actions or omit required actions without causing significant harm. Penalties are less severe than Tier 4, but still costly, ranging from $12,794 to $63,973.

This tier includes violations where individuals or organizations unintentionally or negligently violate HIPAA rules, resulting in no significant harm. Penalties are the lowest, ranging from $100 to $12,794.

This tier involves unintentional violations where individuals or organizations are unaware of HIPAA rules or their specific requirements. Penalties are generally the lowest, but additional corrective actions are needed.

This practice refers to billing for services that were never provided. It's a serious violation of HIPAA and can lead to significant legal repercussions.

This practice refers to adding charges for services that were actually provided by out-of-network providers, making it appear as if the in-network provider delivered those services. It's a form of fraud and violates HIPAA.

This practice involves intentionally modifying billing documents to increase the amount of payment received. It's a serious violation of HIPAA and can lead to criminal charges.

This practice refers to the unnecessary overuse of healthcare services, such as excessive diagnostic tests or prescriptions, leading to higher costs. While not always intentional, it violates HIPAA and can lead to penalties.