Melissa Baetz
HSM/230
April 30, 2015
Paulina Cary
JSBMHA and HIPAA Case Study
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a policy that is intended to protect the rights of patients. Health care providers must keep information pertaining to patients confidential. The clients have the right to determine who will be privy to their personal care and health information. Personal information must be safeguarded and not shared with employers or third parties. Patients have the right to dispute the information within their records to which they feel is not correct. Information shared between health care providers should only pertain to treatment needs. Case files shared through electronic transfer should be done so in a manner that is safeguarded. During the coffee chat between Betty and Jim, specific information about clients was discussed outside of a proper environment. Betty should not be sharing information pertaining to her clients with another person with such precise detail. Although Jim and Betty previously worked on a case, it should not be discussed in a place where others will overhear detail about others treatment. The director of JSBMHA should take action for the violation of HIPAA by Betty and Jim. First, the director should address which parts of the HIPPA act were violated. The private detailed information being shared in public, an individual not involved in the case is hearing personal information, and a second