The purpose of this assignment is to compare legal principles, disclosures and legal procedures. Accounting of disclosures specific to the ARRA and HITECH regulations are also introduced.

Assignment Description:

Scenario: You have been tasked to update the privacy policy in your organization, specific to the requirements for the changes in the accounting of disclosures, as a result of the ARRA/HITECH regulations. The compliance officer's concern is the release of information to a payer when the patient has paid out of pocket and has asked that the insurance company not be granted access to that information.  Your job is to create a document outlining the new requirements from ARRA/HITECH

Step One: Locate and review ARRA/HITECH requirements on privacy

Step Two: Create a policy to specifically address this issue.

Step Three: To further support your mock policy, identify health care privacy related legal cases for review. The following sites provide access to full case studies along with recommendations for legal health record procedures and risks.

Step Four: Review at least two (2) cases involving a breach in privacy

Step Five: Create a comparative summary of the cases which includes the consequences of a breach of privacy.

Step Six: Develop recommendations for your compliance officer based on legal principles.

Step Seven: Based on your findings, make at least one change your mock policy.

Step Eight: Explain the difference between your initial policy and revised policy.

Submit both policies with your written summary. Your summary should be a minimum of three pages (excluding cover and reference page). Be sure to cite your references using proper APA style.

Case studies for Legal Procedures:

http://www.hpso.com/risk-education/individuals-legal-case-studies

http://www.nso.com/risk-education/individuals/legal-case-studies