New HIPAA Legislation to Increase Clarity on Privacy Rules

The American healthcare system has undergone a massive transformation in the past twenty years thanks to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Intended to protect the confidentiality of patients, add security to healthcare information, and help the healthcare industry control administrative costs, HIPAA legislation can sometimes be incredibly challenging to navigate through. Especially, in terms of caring for Americans with mental illness. However, on June 9, 2015, Representative Doris Matsui introduced legislation that would increase clarity on HIPAA Privacy Rules.

“Healthcare providers and administrators have long lacked clarity on HIPAA rules and thus have been cautious to share information with family members and caregivers of patients,” said Congresswoman Matsui. Therefore, adding additional confusion, creating more challenges, and increasing miscommunication to already delicate situations. The people closest to the patient, and the ones caring for them on a daily basis, are at a serious disadvantage when doctors, by law, can’t disclose the necessary information. The HIPAA legislation will provide guidance and enable doctors to handle each patient on a case-by-case basis, the freedom to determine whether sharing the patient’s information with family and care providers will be more beneficial, and providing them with the necessary tools to care for the person as best as possible.

Many industry professionals see this HIPAA legislation as a bright sign for the direction and future of the American healthcare system. “For far too long, too many have misunderstood or hidden behind HIPAA,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health. “The National Council applauds Congresswoman Matsui’s efforts to help educate and inform us about how we can appropriately and permissibly share patient health information to ensure patients’ health and safety while protecting their privacy.” Many doctors and healthcare professionals have been caught in the crossfire of this sticky situation for too long. While it is inevitably a fine-line to walk, a person’s right to effective healthcare should never be compromised by strict, unthoughtful, or misunderstood laws.

Compliance and Privacy Rules will always play a vital role in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and life science industries. Contact Pathlock Technologies today and see how an automated, enterprise-wide business control monitoring system can detect and resolve access and transactional risks, develop solutions, provide access compliance, ensure the integrity of business transactions, and achieve insight into operational performance to drive process improvements.

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