What is HIPPA? HIPPA stands for The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996. The main goal was to "improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes". In addition, it address "the security and privacy of health data, improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care system by encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange in the US health care system" The original document can be located here: PUBLIC LAW 104-191 The Security Rule This was issued on February 20, 2003 and took effect on April 21, 2003, it lays out three types of security standard for administrative, physical, and technical areas. These standards are manadatory and must be adopted and administered. Failure to do so may result in fines and other penalties Some of the penalties: * Each wrongful disclosure carries a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to one-year imprisonment. * Each disclosure made under false pretenses carries a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to five-years imprisonment. * Any disclosure with the intent to sell carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to 10-years imprisonment. * Civil monetary penalties are $100 per violation with a maximum of $25,000 per year, per violation. HIPPA is also encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange in the US health system. As per Bindell (2008), the question to whether computerize medical office or not, is no longer valid. The only choice medical providers have is when. In the State of the Union speech given by President George Bush in January 2004, the President stated "by computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care." In April 2004, the President issued an executive order mandating the computerization of health records by the year 2014.

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