HIPAA and the Dental Office 2nd Edition

Course overview

National standards to provide security for a patient's Protected Health Information (PHI) result from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Since the law was passed, there have been many updates to define the standards for healthcare providers and others with access to people's health information. This Quality Resource Guide (QRG) is designed to be an introduction to HIPAA for dental office staff members new to the environment of health care. It explains the relationship of HIPAA to dental practices, describes what health information is considered to be protected, presents the HIPAA policies and procedures required for a dental office, and illustrates violations that may occur along with actions that must be taken if a breach of information is discovered. The QRG includes a comprehensive Privacy Compliance Checklist to assist the office in determining whether they are compliant with HIPAA Privacy Rules. A FAQ section provides answers to HIPAA questions that often arise. The QRG will serve as an essential part of a new staff member's orientation as well as a resource supporting periodic office updates regarding patient information security.