What is the scope of HIPAA?

HIPAA, short for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a national law that was created to protect patients’ privacy and promote data security in health care. The scope of HIPAA in Hawaii is broad. It applies to all health care providers, health plans, insurance companies, and other entities that store, process, or transmit protected health information (PHI). Under HIPAA, health care providers must comply with the Privacy Rule, which governs the use and disclosure of PHI. It requires providers to create policies and procedures to ensure patients’ privacy and security. It also requires providers to obtain a patient’s written authorization before disclosing their PHI to another organization. HIPAA also requires providers to protect data through the use of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. These safeguards include measures such as employee training, data encryption, and using unique usernames and passwords. HIPAA also sets limits on how health care providers can use and disclose PHI. For example, a provider must obtain a patient’s written authorization before using or disclosing PHI for marketing purposes. In Hawaii, HIPAA is enforced by the Department of Health. The department can take civil and criminal action against entities that violate HIPAA and can impose penalties such as fines, corrective action, and even imprisonment.

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