The United States legal system has a significant impact on the healthcare information
management system. Several laws have been introduced for the purpose of safeguarding
patient health information. One of the most important laws that have been introduced is the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. According to the
specific federal law, it is imperative to create national standards for protecting sensitive patient
health information from being disclosed to any unauthorized party without the consent or
knowledge of the patient (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). As per HIPAA’s
Breach Notification Rule, the covered entities need to notify the patients in case their
unsecured protected health information (PHI) is used without their permission (Hipaa Breach
Notification Rule. American Medical Association, 2021). The HIPAA Act has been identified
as the chief federal law relating to patient health information. Similarly, the Privacy Rule
empowers the patients since they have the right with respect to their sensitive health
information. This rule also sets the limit on how the health information of patients can be used
and shared with others. The Security rule also plays an instrumental role in the context of
patient health information. As per the security rule, certain rules have been introduced that
need to be followed by health care facilities to ensure that PHI is kept secure and suitable
administrative, physical, and technical safeguards are in place.
The laws that are in place are necessary sine they empower patients to have a better degree of
control over their sensitive and confidential health and medical information. Additionally,
these laws even provide guidance to healthcare organizations, hospitals, and other entities
operating in the healthcare domain to handle patient data responsibly and cautiously so they
cannot be accessed by any unauthorized parties. These laws offer additional security to
patients from unauthorized parties such as cybercriminals or online hackers. Thus, the United
States legal system plays an instrumental role in protecting patient health information in a
systematic and secure way.
The healthcare information management system is closely monitored by the United States
legal system. Without this legal system in place the healthcare system would have taken a turn
for the worst a long time ago. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 is the major law in place that everyone thinks of when it comes to protecting patient’s
health records. This act protects patient’s rights to their own health records, and covers
patients’ privacy, security and any breaches that could happen in the electronic health care
world. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal
law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health
information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. The US
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the HIPAA Privacy Rule to
implement the requirements of HIPAA. The HIPAA Security Rule protects a subset of
information covered by the Privacy Rule.
The Privacy Rule standards address the use and disclosure of individuals’ health information
(known as “protected health information”) by entities subject to the Privacy Rule. These
individuals and organizations are called “covered entities.” The Privacy Rule also contains
standards for individuals’ rights to understand and control how their health information is
used. A major goal of the Privacy Rule is to ensure that individuals’ health information is
properly protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and
promote high quality health care and to protect the public’s health and well-being. The Privacy
Rule strikes a balance that permits important uses of information while protecting the privacy
of people who seek care and healing.
Privacy laws are important for patient's so they know their records are safe and they have
control of them and that the data can only be used in ways agreed to. e
The United States legal system has had a significant impact on the healthcare information
management system. What laws are in place to protect patient health information, and why do
you think these laws are necessary?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security,
and Breach Notification Rules are the main Federal laws that protect health information. The
Privacy Rule gives you rights with respect to your health information. The Privacy Rule also
sets limits on how your health information can be used and shared with others. The Security
Rule sets rules for how your health information must be kept secure with administrative,
technical, and physical safeguards.
These laws are there to protect your medical health information, from being seen by anybody
who is nosy about your life. The system that is in place in your healthcare facility can safe if all
the of the safety details are taken in care to protect your file. These rules apply to all except
when a national pandemic happens like the past two years of COVID-19, glad I got all my
shots, and I take all my vitamins along with my medicines. So, all the rules that are listed
above are the main set of rules that will protect your personal information from being looked
at by outsiders.
www.healthit.gov/faq/what-privacy-and-security-laws-prot…
Official Website of The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology (ONC)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, September 14). Health Insurance
Portability and accountability act of 1996 (HIPAA). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, September 14). Health Insurance
Portability and accountability act of 1996 (HIPAA). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html#:~:text=The%20Health%20Insuranc
e%20Portability%20and,the%20patient's%20consent%20or%20knowledge
Hipaa Breach Notification Rule. American Medical Association. (2021). Retrieved May 4,
2022, from https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/hipaa/hipaa-breach-notification-
rule
