Go to http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy and begin researching answers to the following questions. (Note that covered entity refers to who and what are subject to HIPAA rules— such as health plans, doctors, hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.)
The following questions should be answered in your research paper. Remember, research is required to locate the answers, but your findings should be written in your own words.
1. Does HIPAA affect a patient’s right to access his or her medical records or determine who can see the information? If so, describe the patient’s rights. What can patients do if they believe their rights are being denied?
2. How do you file a complaint regarding a HIPAA violation with the Office for Civil Rights?
3. Exactly what must a covered entity do to notify patients when there’s a breach of unsecured, protected health information?
4. How does the Office for Civil Rights investigate a complaint of HIPAA violation? Are any other agencies involved? How can complaints be resolved? What penalties, if any, can the Office for Civil Rights impose on doctors and hospitals for violations?
