Question

Rosalyn Ramirez is a medical insurance specialist employed by Valley Associates, PC, a midsized multispecialty practice with an excellent record of complying with HIPAA rules. Rosalyn answers the telephone and hears this question:
“This is Jane Mazloum, I’m a patient of Dr. Olgivy. I just listened to a phone message from your office about coming in for a checkup. My husband and I were talking about this. Since this is my first pregnancy and I am working, we really don’t want anyone else to know about it yet. Has this information been given to anybody outside the clinic?”


How do you recommend that she respond?

Answer 1

Rosalyn Ramirez must maintain patient’s confidentiality and should not disclose any information that compromises with patient’s privacy because she is employed in a medical practice which is HIPAA complaint.

Explanation:

According to the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Privacy Rules, all HIPPA compliant entities should virtually protect all identifiable health information of an individual which they create, store and maintain.  

The HIPAA compliant entities include healthcare providers and partners, business associates, etc.

HIPAA recognizes an individual’s identifiable health information and refers to it as ‘protected health information’ which includes all physical and mental conditions, demographic data, healthcare details, and healthcare service payments, etc.