The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is
the most substantial law for protecting patient information through the
Privacy, Security, Enforcement, and Breach Notification Rules (Office for
Civil Rights, 2021). These laws are essential to enforce the protection of health
information and give direction on how to establish organizational policies and
procedures. Someone may unintentionally disclose information to an
unauthorized person, such as a family member, because they were unaware of
the Privacy Rule. Or a facility may not know what physical and technical
safeguards are appropriate. Laws help ensure that standards are upheld and
that everyone is on the same page no matter what organization you’re at. Laws
help patients feel confident that their personal health information will only be
seen and used by those necessary. Organizations can also feel assured that they
are informed of the minimum they need to do to maintain patient trust.
Reference
Office for Civil Rights. (2021). HIPAA for Professionals. Hhs.org.
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html
