{"id":2941,"date":"2023-08-02T09:51:59","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T09:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.empowerelearning.com\/blog\/?p=2941"},"modified":"2023-11-23T06:37:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T06:37:05","slug":"the-three-rules-of-hipaa-the-basics-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.empowerelearning.com\/blog\/the-three-rules-of-hipaa-the-basics-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding HIPAA Privacy Rule : The Three Fundamental Rules to Keep in Mind"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neglecting the three HIPAA rules can lead to large fines, loss of face, and for an employee worker \u2013 loss of job. Businesses can lose up to 1.5 million dollars as fines. So, if you are covered under HIPAA<\/a>, you must comply with the three HIPAA rules<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why the 3 rules of HIPAA are necessary<\/b><\/h3>\n

When discussing HIPAA, you may often come across references to three critical rules: the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule, and the Breach Notification Rule.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are these rules so significant? Non-compliance can lead to large civil monetary fines, reaching up to $1.5 million, or even criminal sanctions. Furthermore, breaches can tarnish your organization’s reputation. Hence, if your enterprise falls under the category of a covered entity as per HIPAA, adhering to these three rules is paramount.<\/span><\/p>\n

To ensure clarity, let’s dive deeper into the specifics of each rule and the necessary measures for compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who needs to comply with the 3 HIPAA rules?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Every entity dealing with Protected Health Information (PHI) is required to comply with these rules. This includes Healthcare providers, from large hospitals to private practices. Health insurance companies and clearinghouses. Business associates of the above entities can range from billing companies to software providers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if an entity doesn’t directly deal with patients, but they handle, transmit, or store PHI in any manner, they are bound by HIPAA’s regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three HIPAA rules<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Three-Rules-for-HIPAA-Requirements\"<\/p>\n

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA<\/a>) lays out three rules for protecting patient health information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Privacy Rule\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The Security Rule<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The Breach Notification Rule<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These three rules set national standards for the purpose. These standards address the issue of protecting health information, which could be used for identifying a person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. The Privacy Rule<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The standards set by the Privacy rule address subjects such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Which organizations must follow the HIPAA standards<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. What is protected health information (PHI)<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. How organizations can share and use PHI<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Permitted usage and disclosure of PHI<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Patient’s rights over their health information<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Healthcare entities covered by HIPAA include:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Health plans\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Health care clearinghouses\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Health care providers\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        HIPAA also applies to business associates who conduct healthcare transactions for covered entities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Usage and disclosure limitations\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

        The privacy rule restricts the usage of health information which could identify a person (PHI). Covered entities cannot use or disclose PHI unless:<\/span><\/p>\n