What is the scope of HIPAA?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and is a federal law that sets rules in regards to the use and disclosure of an individual’s medical information. HIPAA is designed to protect the privacy of medical records, protect healthcare insurance coverage for those who switch jobs, and lay out the rules for electronic health transactions. HIPAA applies to all health care providers in the United States, including doctors, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmacies, health insurers, and any other health care provider who transmits health information in electronic form in connection with certain transactions. It requires that safeguards be put in place to protect the privacy of personal health information, including the storage and transfer of patient information. In Washington, HIPAA requires that a person or organization that handles or stores electronically protected or identifiable health information must ensure the information remains accessible and secure. It also requires that health care providers notify patients if their information is accessed by an unauthorized person, or if there is any breach of security. This applies to health care providers in Washington as well, including doctors, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmacies, and health insurers. In summary, the scope of HIPAA in Washington is to protect the privacy of medical records and to ensure that healthcare insurance coverage is secure for those who switch jobs. Health care providers must also have safeguards in place to protect the privacy of personal health information, as well as notify individuals if their information has been accessed by an unauthorized individual.

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What is the scope of HIPAA?

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