1. The Importance of Patient Confidentiality

2. The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act

3.  The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal
protections for personal health information
held by covered entities and gives patients an
array of rights with respect to that
information.
 The Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits
the disclosure of personal health information
needed for patient care and other important
purposes.

4.  A major goal of the Privacy Rule is to assure
that individuals’ health information is
properly protected while allowing the flow of
health information needed to provide and
promote high quality health care and to
protect the public's health and well being.

5.  Health Care Providers
◦ Doctors
◦ Clinics
◦ Pharmacies
 Health Plans
◦ Health Insurance Companies
◦ HMO’s
◦ Medicare and Medicaid

6. Covered entities that fail to comply voluntarily
with the standards may be subject to civil
money penalties.

7.  A person who knowingly obtains or discloses
individually identifiable health information in
violation of the Privacy Rule may face a criminal
penalty of up to $50,000 and up to one-year
imprisonment.
 The criminal penalties increase to $100,000 and up
to five years imprisonment if the wrongful conduct
involves false pretenses, and to
 $250,000 and up to 10 years imprisonment if the
wrongful conduct involves the intent to sell, transfer,
or use identifiable health information for commercial
advantage, personal gain or malicious harm.

8.  Remember patient safety and privacy is our
number one priority.
 Confidentiality is our responsibility.
 Report employees who have breeched HIPPA
confidentiality and privacy rules.

9. It is our duty to protect the privacy of those
seeking care and healing