In case you missed it, we wanted to share an article that first appeared in the New York Times last week about the troubles that HIPAA has continued to pose for healthcare providers. The article points out how HIPAA, a complex federal privacy statute, has been misunderstood. Even those who wrote the law are unhappy with the results:
"Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, a sponsor of the original insurance portability law, was dismayed by the “bizarre hodgepodge” of regulations layered onto it, several staff members said, and by the department’s failure to provide “adequate guidance on what is and is not barred by the law.” Further legislative measures are reported to being considered.
Of course, help cannot come soon enough for those healthcare providers who are trying their best to help comply with HIPAA. The only solace for them is that, with the proper legal guidance, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, and others healthcare professionals can navigate the confusing and hard-to-understand provisions of HIPAA.
The New York Times article can be found here:
www.nytimes.com (registration may be required).
Or here:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/