HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that creates national standards to protect sensitive patient health information, known as protected health information (PHI), that is handled by certain individuals and "covered entities" subject to HIPAA law. Generally, HIPAA rules apply to the following individuals and covered entities:

HIPAA Covered Entities

The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to the following "covered entities":

1. Healthcare providers who electronically transmit health information in connection with certain transactions, including claims, benefits, referrals.
2. Health plans, including physical and mental health, dental, vision, and prescription drug insurers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), government healthcare providers and insurers, long-term and end-of-life care (nursing home) providers and insurers, employer-sponsored group health plans (except employers with less than 50 employees in a group plan), church and religious health plans, and multi-employer plans.
3. Healthcare clearinghouse entities that process nonstandard health information they receive from another entity into a certain standard format or data.
4. Business associates including persons or organizations, often who are third parties, who are using or disclosing individually PHI to perform or provide functions, activities, or services for a covered entity. Business associates include claims processors, data analysts, utilization reviewers, and billing service providers.

In general, HIPAA, by way of its Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Enforcement Rule, and Breach Notification Rule, gives patients the right to expect that their health information will be kept private. It gives patients rights over their health information, including the right to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, and to request corrections. The HIPAA Security Rule sets national standards for the security of electronic protected health information that is created, received, used, or maintained by a covered entity.

Why Learn About HIPAA?

You may wish to learn about HIPAA if you work in, are seeking work in, or are otherwise interested in the healthcare industry, especially the handling of protected health information. You may also have a general interest or curiosity in healthcare data privacy and security. Learning about HIPAA can help you to:

• Understand your rights as a patient and how to protect your health information.
• Be more informed about the healthcare industry and how it handles sensitive patient data.
• Prepare for a career in healthcare compliance or information privacy.
• Develop a better understanding of the ethical and legal implications of handling patient health information.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest HIPAA regulations and best practices.

Using Online Courses to Learn HIPAA

Online courses offer a flexible and convenient way to learn about HIPAA. These courses can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the HIPAA regulations, as well as the skills and knowledge you need to apply them in your work. Some online HIPAA courses may be self-paced, giving you the ability to learn at your own speed. Others may offer live online classes, where you can interact with an instructor and other students in real-time. Online courses can be a great way to learn about HIPAA if you:

• Are a healthcare professional who wants to learn more about HIPAA compliance.
• Are a student who is interested in a career in healthcare compliance or information privacy.
• Are a member of the general public who wants to learn more about their rights under HIPAA.

Online HIPAA courses typically cover a range of topics, including:

• The HIPAA Privacy Rule
• The HIPAA Security Rule
• The HIPAA Enforcement Rule
• The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule
• HIPAA compliance best practices

In addition to providing you with a comprehensive understanding of HIPAA, online courses can also help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to apply HIPAA in your work. These skills include:

• How to conduct a HIPAA risk assessment
• How to develop and implement a HIPAA compliance plan
• How to investigate and respond to a HIPAA breach

If you are interested in learning more about HIPAA, online courses can provide you with a flexible and convenient way to do so. With the skills and knowledge you gain from these courses, you can be better prepared for a career in healthcare compliance or information privacy.