Question

Create a plan that outlines the steps a medical assistant can take to ensure HIPPA compliance in handling patient information. Be sure to define HIPPA and give some background information.
I just need some key points on what to write about.

Answer 1

HIPAA refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. (You can give some background information about the act).

Now, to the main question. The steps a medical assistant can take to ensure HIPPA compliance in handling patient information are outlined as follows

1. Protected Health Information (PHI) should be kept secure and private (either on pass-worded computers or paper files and charts always safely locked up when not in use).

2. Keep strictly to the office policy, and ensure full implementation of laod down procedures. Refresher trainings may also be helpful.

3. Patients should be informed of their rights when their information is being taken and the medical assistant should support those rights.

4. Don’t volunteer patient's information to outside companies/entities or allow them access to it, except with the patient's consent.