The Health Portability & Accountability Act is a US federal law that protects certain medical information from unauthorized access. The law requires all healthcare providers, such as hospitals and doctor’s offices, to keep health information safe and secure from unauthorized access.
In particular, HIPAA requires healthcare providers to take steps to:
- Protect the confidentiality of PHI (Health Information) by limiting access to only those people who need it for treatment or care.
- Ensure the security of PHI by following proper procedures when an individual’s health-related information is disclosed or accessible outside the organization.
To comply with this law, you must have appropriate security measures in place. You can use encryption codes on your electronic data and ensure that third parties do not have access to patient data. Regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also look into HIPAA compliance.
