Health Informatics_HIPAA, Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Act,

The document is an informational or academic paper on Health Informatics that details key US legislation and concepts related to the privacy, security, and use of electronic health data. Key Legislative Acts HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act): Enacted in 2009, this act promoted the meaningful use of health information technology. Incentives: It incentivized healthcare providers to implement Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Goals: Its primary objective was to improve healthcare safety, quality, and efficiency through the widespread adoption of EHRs and by emphasizing interoperability to facilitate the exchange of health information. Compliance: It ensured that organizations complied with HIPAA safety and security rules. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): Enacted in 1996, this comprehensive law sets federal standards for the privacy, security, and electronic transactions of health information. Accountability: It introduced accountability measures for safeguarding health data. Core Concepts Privacy Rule: A central component of HIPAA that defines and regulates the permissible uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI). Protected Health Information (PHI): This is any health information that can be used to identify an individual and is collected during the provision of healthcare. This includes demographic data, medical history, and test results. Security: Evaluation focuses on the security and privacy of health information, the likelihood of threats, and their potential impact. It stresses the need for technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI.