Explain confidentiality and its connection to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Explanation should include

• the definition of confidentiality
• the reasons that patient confidentiality is important in the practice of dentistry
• the possible consequences of not maintaining patient confidentiality
• a summary of the provisions found in HIPAA (e.g., privacy standard, patient rights, administrative requirements)
• the privacy standards mandated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protect the privacy of patients
• Virginia Code §32.1-127.1:03. Links to an external site. 

Process/Skill Questions

• Why is confidentiality important in patient relationships?
• What could be the consequences of not maintaining patient confidentiality?
• When does patient confidentiality move from an ethical issue to a legal issue?
• When was HIPAA enacted? Why was it enacted?
• What types of health information are protected under HIPAA?
• Who is responsible for the enforcement of HIPAA?
• What are the consequences of violating HIPAA?
• What are the privacy standards mandated by the HHS to protect the privacy of patients?