HIPAA is a federal law enacted in 1996 to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. It aims to ensure the privacy and security of individuals’ medical records and requires healthcare providers, insurers, and related entities to comply with its regulations.
PHI refers to any individually identifiable health information that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by a covered entity, such as healthcare providers or health plans, and relates to an individual’s past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare.
A covered entity is defined under HIPAA as a healthcare provider, health plan, or healthcare clearinghouse that electronically transmits any health information in connection with a HIPAA transaction. Covered entities are subject to HIPAA’s privacy and security regulations.
ePHI refers to PHI that is transmitted or maintained in electronic format. HIPAA’s Security Rule imposes specific safeguards on the use, storage, and transmission of ePHI to ensure its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The Privacy Rule establishes national standards for the protection of individuals’ PHI held by covered entities. It sets limits on the use and disclosure of PHI, grants individuals rights over their health information, and requires covered entities to implement safeguards to protect PHI.
The Security Rule sets standards for protecting ePHI that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by covered entities. It requires covered entities to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI.
The Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify affected individuals, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and, in some cases, the media, in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI. Notifications must be provided without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 days after the discovery of the breach.
A business associate is a person or entity, other than a member of the covered entity’s workforce, who performs functions or activities on behalf of, or provides certain services to, a covered entity that involve the use or disclosure of PHI. Business associates are required to comply with HIPAA regulations through written agreements with covered entities.
The Minimum Necessary Standard requires covered entities to limit the use, disclosure, and request of PHI to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose. This standard helps protect patient privacy by ensuring that only the minimum amount of PHI necessary for a particular purpose is accessed or disclosed.
HIPAA compliance refers to the adherence of covered entities and their business associates to the requirements outlined in HIPAA regulations, including the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rule. Compliance efforts involve implementing policies, procedures, and safeguards to protect PHI and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or disclosure.