Health Care Policy

Abstract

The research proposal is based on the issue of the impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 Security Rule have on electronic health records and electronic health information exchange. We will first analyze the history of the policy and then analyze the five key societal variables and market forces that contributed to shaping the policy. We will also analyze the five key effects of the policy on health care.

Table of Contents

Abstract1

Introduction3

Brief Statement Of The Problem & Background3

Purpose Of The Study3

Research Questions3

Literature Review4

History Of The Policy4

Impact Of HIPAA On Electronic Health Records And Electronic Health Information Exchange4

The Important Terms Used under this Policy5

Rights of Recipients of Care and Their Families6

Security Rules, Uniform Code Sets, and Transaction Standards6

Identification Of Five Key Societal Variables And Market Forces That Contributed To Shaping The Policy7

Five Key Effects Of The Policy On Health Care7

Conclusion & Recommendations8

Health Care Policy

Introduction

Brief Statement Of The Problem & Background

This research study is based on the issue of the impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 Security Rule have on electronic health records and electronic health information exchange (Carter, 2008).

HIPAA refers to a federal statute, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, passed by Congress in 1996. Prior to the enactment of HIPAA and its Privacy Rule, confidentiality of health care information was protected by a patchwork of state statutes; the common law right to privacy, enforced by tort actions for invasion of privacy; and the ethical requirements of confidentiality assumed by all health care professionals, violations of which could lead to discipline imposed by state licensing boards. However, there were numerous and recurring reports of confidentiality breaches (Beaver & Rebecca, 2004).

Purpose Of The Study

This research study is based on what impact the HIPPA of 1996 Security Rule has on electronic health records and electronic health information exchange. We shall discuss the history and details of the Act along with searching on the five key societal variables and market forces identified that contributed to shaping the policy. We shall also study the five key effects of the policy on health care.

Research Questions

The questions that the research paper will study are stated below:

What was the history of the policy?

How were the five key societal variables and market forces identified that contributed to shaping the policy?

What are the five key effects of the policy on health care?

Literature Review

History Of The Policy

HIPAA refers to a federal statute, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, passed by Congress in 1996. Prior to the enactment of HIPAA and its Privacy Rule, confidentiality of health care information was protected by a patchwork of state statutes; the common law right to privacy, enforced by tort actions for invasion of privacy; and the ethical requirements of confidentiality assumed by all health care professionals, violations of which could lead to discipline imposed by state licensing boards. However, there were numerous and recurring reports of confidentiality breaches.

The principal goal of HIPAA was to allow portability of health insurance, ...