Laboratories are classified as covered entities as per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). They would need to ensure that all protected information of the patients is stored and safeguarded in the best possible way. Laboratory assistants and other individuals who are working in laboratories would need to be trained in handling sensitive information of patients according to the guidelines specified by HIPAA.

The confidentiality of the test results will need to be maintained by all laboratories and they must take adequate safeguards to help protect it. All the staff working there must be aware of the various Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act rules and regulations pertaining to protected information of patients.

What Are The Top 4 Things You Need To Know About HIPAA Regulations For Laboratories?

1. Test results of the various treatment processes that are done by patients are the primary source of information that is available at laboratories. Apart from this there can also be information relating to insurance claims and visits to the physician’s office. All this information can be stored electronically or on paper and it is important that only people who are authorized are able to access it easily.

2. There are various ways in which laboratories deliver the test results to other covered entities. This can include physicians, nurses, hospitals and clinics. When the test results are delivered to the physician’s office the laboratories usually trusts them and assumes that the doctor will have enough safeguards in place to ensure that the protected information is not misused. There is usually a lot of risk involved in delivering the test results this way.

3. The other method in which the tests results of the patients are delivered involves acceptance of total responsibility by the laboratory.

In this method the laboratory will assume total responsibility of delivering the results from one point to the other. This will ensure that the confidential test results are safe and secure. The next method of delivering test results would involve sharing of responsibility between the laboratory and other health care providers (doctors and nurses).

4. The laboratory cannot be sharing the test results with the patients too unless it has been specifically authorized to do so. The laboratories would be able to share the test results only with physicians. It is also the responsibility of the laboratory staff to inform patients about their HIPAA rights so that they are aware about it.

There are various forms that the patient might be required to sign when they visit the laboratory for different tests. This will provide the laboratory with the requisite permission that it needs to access the test results for the propose of treatment.

The patient can also request the laboratory for information pertaining to their test results and if the state laws permit they should be provided with this information within a period of thirty days from the date on which the results were made. If the protected information is to be provided to any other health care provider it is important to take authorization from the patient.

For more information, please visit our HIPAA Privacy Rule website.

For more information, please visit our HIPAA Privacy Rule website http://www.hipaaprivacyrule.com

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our HIPAA Privacy Rule website.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: health care organizations ,HIPAA,Health Insurance ,HIPAA Regulations ,HIPAA Penalties ,HIPAA act