What is the scope of HIPAA?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and it is designed to regulate data security. It is a comprehensive federal law that sets standards for the use and disclosure of personal health information by health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses. HIPAA’s scope includes, but is not limited to, the following: privacy rules, which set standards for how personal health information is used and disclosed; security rules, which set standards for how electronic health information is stored and managed; and breach notification rules, which require entities to notify individuals when their personal health information has been compromised. HIPAA also sets standards for health plan record-keeping and reporting requirements, as well as compliance. In California, the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) sets the standards for protecting the privacy of medical records. CMIA is considered the state equivalent of HIPAA and both laws have similar standards and provisions. HIPAA is enforced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and violators can be subject to civil fines, penalties, and in some cases, criminal prosecution. Overall, HIPAA’s scope is designed to ensure that personal health information is secure, and to protect individuals’ rights to access and control their personal health information.

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What is the scope of HIPAA?

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