HIPAA Training in Georgia

HIPAA training in Georgia is designed for anyone who works with, handles, or processes patient information. Healthcare professionals of any organization who are involved in the direct care or medical treatment of patients must undergo HIPAA training. That includes doctors, nurses, medical students, dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, cardiologists, nursing hospice nurses, and all patient-related caregivers. Most programs take anywhere from one to four hours to complete, at which time a certificate is issued. Testing is required in order for the trainee to receive certification in the area of HIPAA specialty.

Herzing University

Associate
AS in Health Care
Atlanta

HIPAA Laws

HIPAA laws are designed to protect patient privacy, but—from "covered entities" to "PHI"—they often leave professionals in healthcare and related industries scratching their heads in confusion. This quick start guide will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about these regulations and how they affect day-to-day operations. Remember, though, that this guide is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the many aspects of HIPAA. For a full description of the laws, please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website.

What are HIPAA laws?

Initially passed in 1996, these regulations set industry-wide standards for protecting personal patient health information (PHI). The law protects information that health care providers add to medical records as well as conversations between doctor and patient regarding the patient's treatment, and patient information held by the health insurer.

Organizations that transmit or store information electronically are required to safeguard the information, limit its use, and ensure that when it is disclosed, it's done so appropriately and, when necessary, with the patient's authorization.

What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

The Privacy Rule must be followed by any entity that transmits health information in an electronic form. Protected information includes "individually identifiable health information" that those organizations who must comply hold or transmit in any format, including electronic, paper, or oral. Organizations may not use or share this type of information unless the patient authorizes the transfer. Organizations comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule by implementing privacy policies and procedures, designating an in-house privacy official, training management and staff periodically, safeguarding data, and enacting a variety of other compliance strategies.

Who needs to observe HIPAA regulations regarding privacy?

Some of the organizations who must comply, called "covered entities" in HIPAA-speak, include health plans that cover health, dental, prescription drugs, and vision. HMOs, Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care plans are also subject. Health care providers who transmit electronic patient information and health care clearinghouses must also observe the HIPAA law's Privacy Rule.

In addition, business associates, or any person or organization who performs functions or services on behalf of a covered entity, must observe HIPAA laws. Business associates include companies who perform data aggregation, consulting, aggregation, claims processing or data analysis. Covered entities will need to ask these groups to sign a business associate agreement, or contract, guaranteeing they will safeguard patients' personal health info.

What is the HIPAA Security Rule?

This regulation sets national standards designed to protect health information that is held in an electronic format. It allows everyone from providers to billing companies to process information through efficient new technologies while protecting patients' private information. Specifically, covered entities must implement a number of security safeguards, including the assurance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic personal health information as well as protection against prohibited uses or disclosures. The Security Rule also dictates that covered entities must ensure employee compliance.

What happens if my office, a covered entity, isn't in compliance?

The Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for oversight of HIPAA laws, has issued a tiered penalty structure for violations. For example, a violation committed by an "individual [who] did not know (and by exercising reasonable diligence would not have known) that he/she violated HIPAA" would be fined $100 per violation. On the other end of the tier, a violation deemed to be willful neglect that is not corrected can incur a fine up to $50,000 per violation. What's more, some violations may be subject to criminal charges. If you are a covered entity, you owe it to your staff and to your patients to ensure the office is in compliance with HIPAA laws. Start educating yourself today.

Online Schools

The following is a list of schools that offer online HIPAA Training programs.

Independence University

• AS - Allied Health
• MS - Public Health

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