Tech News World has done a 2-part series about HIPAA. Part 1: Privacy vs. Portability and Part 2: Seeking Balance. It’s a very well-done examination of the state of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), some of which I will synthesize below. Given that HIPAA is often misunderstood in basics and in application, it’s a great refresher series.

HIPAA Concerns:

  • There is a push for health information to become more liquid, but the privacy and security framework does not exist yet
  • The technologies being designed now will have a huge impact on how health information is accessed, stored and shared
  • Post-HIPAA privacy and security protections need to be adopted in law and in best practices
  • HIPAA compliance was a heavy burden at initial inception, but there has been no proof that HIPAA has in any way had negative effects on patient care
  • Staff training and education must be ongoing for new, and old, employees
  • Continue reading about the concerns here.

HIPAA Myths:

  • That it weakened, rather than strengthened, rights to health information privacy
  • HIPAA is all we need in the digital age
  • HIPAA “covered entities” cover every use of personal health information
  • Check out the full examination of these myths here.

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