Discuss legal issues in medicine.

Discussion should include, but not be limited to,

• the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
• privacy
• confidentiality
• secure messaging
• medical malpractice
• tort reform.

The following document from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights provides guidance regarding methods for de-identification of protected health information in accordance with the HIPAA privacy rule: Guidance on De-Identification of Protected Health Information Links to an external site. (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/De-identification/hhs_deid_guidance.pdf Links to an external site.). 

Process/Skill Questions:

• What is HIPAA?
• When was HIPAA enacted?
• Who must comply with HIPAA?
• What is protected health information (PHI)?
• What is de-identification of PHI?
• What are possible ramifications of confidentiality breaches?