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What Is HIPAA?

Medical Records

When you go to the doctor, you expect a certain degree of privacy and security. That’s thanks to HIPAA, which regulates how healthcare providers must protect your sensitive data. Medical records technicians and all other healthcare workers must be well-versed in HIPAA to protect patient data and to avoid potential fines and penalties for violations. 

What is HIPAA and Why Does It Matter?

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996 to protect patients’ sensitive health information from being leaked or shared without permission. HIPAA procedures are the key guidelines that all medical professionals must follow to protect private information. As records and billing have increasingly become electronic, HIPAA also regulates the necessary steps medical facilities must take to ensure their software remains secure. 

HIPAA achieves all this with three rules:

  • Privacy: The Privacy Rule creates standardized definitions for protected health information, who must follow those standards, and how and when organizations can share protected health information (PHI). This dictates that health plans, healthcare providers, healthcare clearinghouses and any business associates in charge of transactions for these entities must follow HIPAA.
  • Security: The Security Rule describes how those bound by HIPAA must protect any private health information. It includes guidelines for digital data. According to the Security Rule, it’s essential to keep all PHI confidential, truthful and accessible to those with authorization. Healthcare facilities and other entities bound by HIPAA must provide adequate protection and risk management for this data. In addition, all relevant employees must be trained to comply. 
  • Breach notification: HIPAA also requires entities responsible for PHI to remain accountable. All breaches must be properly reported to the authorities and affected individuals within 60 days.

Violating HIPAA can result in employer fines, terminations or possible criminal charges.

How Medical Records Technicians Use HIPAA to Protect Patient Privacy

Medical records technicians must adhere to all guidelines set out by HIPAA. This requires them to understand all regulations, including those surrounding the privacy and security of protected health information. Typically, medical records technicians must participate in continuous training to ensure they are always up to date.

Typical precautions medical records technicians take to protect patient information include only accessing the information necessary to complete their job, utilizing encrypted platforms and secure patient portals, and reporting any potential breaches as soon as they are suspected.

How to Get Medical Records Jobs

Medical records jobs can vary. Medical records clerks tend to focus on the administrative side, completing data entry and record retrieval. Medical records technicians typically use electronic health record (EHR) systems, coding and data analysis. Medical records specialists often tackle more complex tasks, such as auditing, billing or compliance.

The minimum entry-level requirement for medical records jobs is usually a high school diploma or GED. However, many employers look for qualified individuals with an associate’s degree in health information management (or related fields) or some sort of certification.

Certificate programs like the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC) can improve your competitiveness. They require you to learn medical terminology, how to utilize EHRs and medical billing.

Enroll in IMBC’s Medical Records Technician Training Program

Ready to take the first step toward your career as a medical records technician? Enroll in IMBC’s medical records technician training program to gain industry-specific knowledge. As you complete our Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) degree, either online or in person, you take necessary internships or practicums to gain real-world experience in a healthcare setting under the guidance of a professional. Reach out to discuss enrollment in the AST program today.