HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that was passed by Congress in 1996 and protects the privacy and security of individuals' health information (Protected Health Information, PHI).
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates safeguarding patients' privacy and making sure patient data is adequately secured, with the requirements put in by the HIPAA Privacy Rule of 2000 and the HIPAA Security Rule of 2003.
HIPAA requires health care providers as well as their business associates, to develop and follow procedures that ensure the confidentiality and security of protected health information (PHI) when it is transferred, received, handled, or shared. The requirement applies to all forms of PHI, including electronic, paper, oral, etc.
| Protected Health Information (PHI) | Any personally identifiable demographic information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, that can be used to identify a patient. HIPAA identifies the following PHI identifiers:
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| Covered Entity (CE) | HIPAA regulation defines a covered entity as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses involved in the transmission of protected health information (PHI). This transmission can take place for the purpose of payment, treatment, operations, billing, or insurance coverage. Covered entities can include organizations, institutions, or persons. Health Care Providers include:
... only if they transmit any information in electronic form, in connection with a transaction for which HHS has adopted a standard. Health Plans include:
Health Care Clearinghouses include entities that process non-standard health information which they receive from another entity, into a standard (i.e. standard electronic format or data contact) or vice versa. Individuals, organizations, and agencies that meet the definition of a covered entity under HIPAA must comply with the Rules' requirements to protect the privacy and security of health information and must provide individuals with certain rights with respect to their health information. More information on HHS.Gov website. |
| Business Associate | A “business associate” is a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or provides services to, a covered entity. A covered health care provider, health plan, or health care clearinghouse can be a business associate of another covered entity. The types of functions or activities that may make a person or entity a business associate include payment or health care operations activities, as well as other functions or activities regulated by the Administrative Simplification Rules. Business associate functions and activities include: claims processing or administration; data analysis, processing or administration; utilization review; quality assurance; billing; benefit management; practice management; and repricing. Business associate services are: legal; actuarial; accounting; consulting; data aggregation; management; administrative; accreditation; and financial. Examples of Business Associates:
More information on HHS.Gov website. |
The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information and applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically.
The Rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of personal health information, and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without patient authorization.
The Rule also gives patients rights over their health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, and to request corrections.
The HIPAA Security Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals’ electronic personal health information that is created, received, used, or maintained by a covered entity. The Security Rule requires appropriate administrative, physical and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of electronic protected health information.
More information on HHS.gov website.
Health Information Privacy at GW is managed through the HIPAA Policy. The policy informs employees how PHI may be used and disclosed by the George Washington University Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, explain how participants can obtain access to their PHI and to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and the related regulations (collectively, “HIPAA”).
We work closely with the GW community to reduce the risks to health information by:
- Classifying protected health information (PHI) per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applying the required HIPAA security and privacy safeguards;
- Classifying health information that is not defined as protected health information (PHI) and applying appropriate information security safeguards;
Online training
Various HIPAA training modules are available for students, staff and faculty, in Talent@GW. These modules include : HIPAA Training for Covered Entities and Business Associates, HIPAA Security Training and HIPAA Training for researchers. Click here to review the list of all available online HIPAA training modules.
Additional Training Materials are offered by the US Department of Health & Human Services.