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The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is legislation aimed at facilitating access to health insurance coverage for US workers when they change or lose their jobs. However, it also aims to streamline the US healthcare system by promoting the use of electronic health records to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare services through improved information sharing.
Beyond the adoption of electronic medical records, HIPAA includes provisions to safeguard the security and privacy of protected health information (PHI). PHI includes an extensive range of personally identifiable health and health-related data, such as insurance and billing information, diagnosis data, clinical care data, as well as lab results, including images and test results.
HIPAA rules apply to covered entities, including hospitals, medical service providers, employer-sponsored health plans, research facilities, and insurance companies that handle patient and patient data. HIPAA’s obligation to safeguard PHI also applies to business associates.
In essence, HIPAA is a multi-faceted law that aims to protect the privacy of health information while improving healthcare delivery in the US. It promotes the use of technology to achieve more efficient and effective healthcare services while upholding the fundamental right to privacy for individuals and their medical records.