HIPAA FOR MTs: THE BASICS OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

Understanding the basics of Federal Regulations can be overwhelming to the Medical Transcriptionist (MT). With a career as a healthcare professional you will here this word a lot HIPAA
(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

This is a bill that was enacted in congress in 1996, with the main objectives, portability and accountability.

PORTABILITY:

Ensure the continuation of health insurance for workers and their families in times of job changes or loss.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Protecting health data integrity while increase the effectiveness of the health care system, confidentiality and availability and preventing fraud and abuse.

The experts call this the most sweeping healthcare legislation in the last 33 years.

The most important part for HIM (Health Information Management), the department in which MT is one of its specializations, profession is in the title section: TITLE II, SUBTITLE F.
Administrative Simplification is the name of this part.

Four Rules of Administrative Simplification:

• Electronic Standards Rules
  
• Privacy Standards Rules
  
• Security and Electronic Signature Standard Rule
  
• Standard Identification Rule for Employers and Providers
  

  Go here for more information.
  

Information specifically about HIPAA including complete text of the regulation and more important links can be found Here.

HIPAA and your job as a MT can be quite over whelming, but don't let this stop you. HIPAA is designed to help you save money and time to make everyone's life easier.

HIPAA FOR MTs:

Sample Business Associate Agreement (sample agreement only, seek legal counsel).

MT's Check List

Safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI): Focus Points for Offsite Transcriptionists

MT Service Providers Transcription Agreement Check List

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