HIPAA Laws Essays - , Term Papers, Research Papers

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was a law signed on August 21st 1996 by former United States President Bill Clinton. The law is also known as Kassenbaum-Kennedy Health Insurance reform bill. There are two sections to the HIPAA Act. HIPAA Title I deals with protecting health insurance coverage for people who lose or change jobs. HIPAA Title II includes an administrative simplification section which deals with the standardization of healthcare-related information systems. HIPAA has four main goals. The first is to provide persons with group coverage new protections from discriminatory treatment. The second is to enable small groups (such as businesses with a small number of employees) to obtain and keep health insurance coverage more easily. The third is to give persons losing/leaving group coverage new options for obtaining individual coverage. The fourth is to ensure the confidentiality of health information and maintain certain safeguards for your pri vate health information. Enforcement of the bill began on April 14th 2003 with the focal point of health care shifting to privacy. The enforcement of this bill greatly affected patient?s rights to privacy and also how medical personnel were to be trained in matters regarding privacy. HIPAA (Health Information Insurance and Accountability Act) at my organization is taken very serious we have mandatory training every year to ensure that we know how to handle a request for information. Information to be released must have a valid consent. There is also a minimum only what is necessary is what we release. We also deal with subpoenas and court order request that also must follow HIPAA guidelines. Regulatory issues dealing with at my organization right now is RHIO regional health information organization. It falls under the umbrella of HIPAA. In order for information (or the electronic medical record) to be shared in the RHIO a HIPAA consent must be signed and be on file giving the organization permission to share your health information. The RHIO just makes it easier for information to be shared between different organizations. With the RHIO, information is kept in a central location and can be shared with all involved as long as consent has been given. This way if yo u have a primary doctor then you have to see a specialist all the information will be in the system and you will not have to have double work done. Because each provider can see what the other one is doing or did do. There are a variety of scenarios that exist. Most HIPAA violations are common and avoidable; they include some of the following characteristics, unencrypted data, employee error, data stored on devices lost or stolen, business associates, and a lapse in notification. The vast majority of data breaches are due to stolen or lost data that was unencrypted. A common theme includes the data archiving method of using backup tapes to store patient health records. Employee error involves a number of things, an employee leaving unencrypted backup tapes in their vehicles while parked off premises, mistakenly sending information to the wrong person, and disclosing sensitive information on social media networks that could be personally identifiable. Almost half of all data breaches can be attributed to theft. When portable devices are not properly secured with passwords or other security methods, the risk of a breach increases considerably. Sixty-two percent of data breaches involve a business a ssociate. Sharing medical information with a business associate is in complete breach with HIPAA. Another mistake made in many HIPAA violation cases is the date of notification to HHS (Health The penalties and fines for a HIPAA violation range from monetary to potential imprisonment for criminal offenses. They are listed below in the following table: VIOLATION TYPEMINIMUM PENALTYMAXIMUM PENALTY Individual did not know they violated HIPAA$100/violation; annual max of $25,000/repeat violations$50,000/violation; annual max of $1.5 million Reasonable cause and not willful neglect$1,000/violation; annual max of $100,000/repeat violations$50,000/violation; annual max of $1.5 million Willful neglect but corrected within time$10,000/violation; annual max of $250,000/repeat violations$50,000/violation; annual max of

Sample Letters of Continued Interest

Sample Letters of Continued Interest If you find yourself waitlisted or deferred at one of your top college choices, the following samples can help guide you as you  write a letter of continued interest. Waitlist Letter Samples A letter of continued interest does not guarantee your eventual acceptance to the school, and it may not improve your chances at all. That said, it cant hurt, and your display of interest in the program and your dedication and outreach may help. Alexs Letter Mr. Andrew QuackenbushDirector of AdmissionsBurr UniversityCollegeville, USADear Mr. Quackenbush,I was recently waitlisted for the [current year] school year; I am writing to express my continued interest in Burr University. I am particularly drawn to the schools Music Education program - the outstanding faculty and state-of-the-art facilities are what specifically make Burr University my top choice.I also wanted to inform you that since I submitted my application, I have been awarded the Nelson Fletcher Prize for Excellence in Music by the Treeville Community Foundation. This award is given to a high school senior every year after a state-wide competition. This award means a lot to me, and I believe it shows my dedication and continued passion in music and music education. I have attached an updated resumà ©Ã‚  with this information added to it.Thank you so much for you time and consideration. If you have any further questions, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from yo u.Sincerely,Alex Student Discussion of Alexs Letter Students should keep in mind that writing a letter of continued interest (also known  as LOCI) is not a guarantee that they will be moved off of the waitlist as an accepted student. While new information can be helpful, it may not be enough to sway the Admissions Offices decision. But dont let that discourage you from writing a LOCI.  If nothing else, it shows the school you are dedicated, mature, attentive, and very much interested in its programs. At many schools, demonstrated interest plays a role in admissions decisions.   Alex addressed his letter to the Director of Admissions, which is a good choice. Whenever possible, use the name of the person who sent you the letter or email telling you of your admissions status. To Whom It May Concern sounds generic and impersonal, something you want to avoid. You want to create a personal connection with the admissions office. Alexs letter is fairly short. This is a good idea  because going on at length about your interest, your improved test scores, or your passion for education may come off as sounding desperate or vain, and it wastes the time of the admissions staff. Here, with only a few short paragraphs, Alex gets his message across without being too wordy. Alex briefly mentions that this school is his top choice. This is good information to include, but more importantly, Alex goes into  why  it is his top choice. Having specific reasons for being interested in a school can show the Admissions Office that you have done your research and that your interest in their school is informed and sincere.  That kind of attention to detail and individual interest can set you apart from others on the waitlist.   Alex thanks the Director at the close of the letter, and his writing/communication skills are strong. While he writes a convincing and mature letter, it is also respectful in that he does not demand to be bumped from waitlisted to accepted. Whatever anger and frustration Alex is feeling does not appear in the letter, and he shows a pleasing level of maturity and professionalism. Hannahs Letter Mrs. A. D. MissionsDirector of AdmissionsState UniversityCityville, USADear Mrs. Missions,Thank you for taking the time to read my application. I know that State University is a very selective school, and Im happy to be included on the schools waitlist. Im writing to express my continued interest in the school, and to include some new information to add to my application.Since I applied to State University, I retook the SAT; my previous scores were lower than I would have liked, and I wanted a second chance to prove myself. My math score is now 670 and  my evidence-based reading score is 690. Im much happier with these scores, and I wanted to share this improvement with you. Im having the official scores sent to State University.I understand that this new information may not impact my position on the waitlist, but I wanted to share it with you nonetheless. Im still very excited about the prospect of joining the State University History Department, and of working with its extensive American History archives.Thank you for your time and consideration.Sincerely,Hannah Highschooler Discussion of Hannahs Letter Hannahs letter is another good example of what to include in a letter of continued interest. She writes well, and she keeps the letter short and respectful. She doesnt come across as angry or presumptuous, and she states her case well while remembering her letter does not guarantee she will be accepted. In the second paragraph, Hannah presents new information: her updated and higher  SAT scores. We dont see how much of an improvement these scores are from her old ones. However, these new scores are well above average. She doesnt make excuses for her  poor scores. Instead, she focuses on the positive and shows her improvement by sending the scores to the school. In the final paragraph, she expresses her interest in the school  with specific information about  why  she wants to attend. This is a good move; it shows that she has specific reasons  why she wants to attend this college in particular. It may not be enough to impact her status, but it shows the Admissions Office she cares about the school and really does want to be there. All in all, Hannah and Alex have written strong letters. They may not  get off of the waitlist, but with these letters, they have demonstrated themselves to be interested students with additional information to help their cases. Its always good to be realistic about your chances when writing a letter of continued interest and to know that it probably wont end up making a difference. But it never hurts to try, and new information that strengthens your application can make a difference. Sample Bad Letter of Continued Interest Ms. Molly MonitorDirector of AdmissionsHigher Ed UniversityCityville, USATo Whom It May Concern:Im writing to you in regards to my current admissions status. HEU is my top choice, and while I understand being on the waitlist isnt a rejection, I was very disappointed in being put on this list. I am hoping to state my case for you and convince you to move me to the top of the list, or to change my status to admitted.As I wrote in my application, Ive been on the Honor Roll for the past six semesters. Ive also received numerous awards at area art shows. My art portfolio, which I submitted as part of my application, was some of my best work, and clearly college-level work. When Im enrolled at HEU, my work will only improve, and I will continue to work hard.HEU is my top choice, and I really want to attend. Ive been rejected from three other schools, and accepted to a school that I dont really want to attend. Im hoping you can find a way to admit me, or least move me to the top of the wait list.Thank you in advance for your help!Sincerely,Lana Anystudent A Critique of Lanas Letter Right from the start, Lana is taking the wrong tone. While its not a major issue, she starts the letter with To Whom It May Concern, even though she is writing it to the Director of Admissions. If possible, address your letter to a person, being sure to spell his or her name and title correctly.   In her first paragraph, Lana makes the mistake of sounding both frustrated and presumptuous. While being waitlisted is not a positive experience, you shouldnt let that disappointment come through in your LOCI. She goes on to point out the ways in which the admissions office has made a mistake in placing her on the waitlist. Instead of presenting new information, such as higher test scores or a new award, she reiterates the achievements she has already listed on her application. By using the phrase when Im enrolled... she is presuming that her letter will be enough to take her off the waitlist; this makes her come off as arrogant and less likely to succeed in her attempt. Finally, Lana writes that she is desperate; shes been rejected at other schools, and accepted to a school she doesnt want to attend. Its one thing to let the school know they are your top choice, for this is a small but helpful piece of information. Its another thing to act as though this is your only option, your last resort. Coming across as desperate wont help your chances. Also, if Lana doesnt want to go to the school that admitted her, then why did she apply?  Lana comes across as someone who planned her application process poorly. If she did, in fact, plan her application process poorly, fair enough - many students do. However, you shouldnt share this fact with colleges. While Lana is generally polite in her letter, and her spelling/grammar/syntax is all fine, her tone and approach are what make this letter a bad one. If you decide to write a letter of continued interest, make sure to be respectful, honest, and humble.   A Final Word on LOCI Realize that some colleges and universities do not welcome letters of continued interest. Before sending anything to a school, be sure to read both your decision letter and the admissions website carefully to see if the school has said anything about sending additional information. If the school says further correspondence is not welcome, you obviously shouldnt send anything. After all, colleges want to admit students who know how to follow directions.

Medicare and Medicaid Module 4 ( Case) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medicare and Medicaid Module 4 ( Case) - Essay Example Eligibility to this program is mainly based on the levels of income. Families which fall under the income earners receiving less than sixty percent below the poverty level are liable to receiving Medicaid (Hill, 2006). In addition, pregnant mothers also receive Medicaid as they are in need of prenatal care assistance that is often immediate. The same program also covers children up to 18 years. Medicare on the other hand is meant for disabled individuals, those with problem s, those in need of long term care and those above 65 years. Medicare as a program has been divided into two components; one component applies to those citizen s who require inpatient care, those in need of hospitalization as well as other hospital services. The other component covers medical supplies, outpatient care and special needs for individuals who are disabled. Over the years, Medicare has undergone remarkable changes in terms of changing economics, demographic, health care system and technologies in an effort to meet the needs of the dynamic society. In current times, Medicare has emerged as a vital financial protection base for more than 38millions Americans who are old together with disabled individuals inclusive of their families. The program has not stopped at that as it promises to extend its protection to each and every individual in future. This has made most Americans to appreciate the fact that without Medicare program, a good portion of what they enjoy as their retirement income would have to be set aside for health care payment. So far, the program is regarded as being a success. This can be seen in many sectors with a good example being the health insurance coverage on older Americans where in the early 1960’s it had managed to cover only half of the older population and more so some who were lucky to be covered receive d coverage that was very limited. At that time,