- Provides the ability to transfer and continue health insurance coverage for millions of American workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs;
- Reduces health care fraud and abuse;
- Mandates industry-wide standards for health care information on electronic billing and other processes; and
- Requires the protection and confidential handling of protected health information
Frequently Asked HIPAA Questions
Your staff should limit the information left on a voicemail to the practice name, the caller’s name and phone number, appointment date and time, and the name of the person you are attempting to contact. Avoid leaving any health or finance-related information, including patient account information, on a voicemail. If a patient requests a restriction against leaving voice messages, document the request and honor the patient’s wishes. See the Office for Civil Rights’ FAQ on this topic.
If you are sending identifying information along with the image, including any part of the patient’s name, address, date of birth, phone number, or other data elements that constitute Protected Health Information, it does puts patients’ information at risk of a breach.
Please consider using PBHS Securemail or a Direct Accredited Health Information Service Provider (HISP) for sending Protected Health Information (PHI).
You may send unsecured email containing PHI if a patient has been informed of the risks and directs you to do so regardless. Document the request carefully and honor your patient’s wishes.
Storage encryption for your practice’s computer hardware, handhelds, mobile devices, and removable media is strongly recommended whenever a dental practice’s ongoing risk analysis determines a risk of unauthorized access to Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) as a result of loss or theft exists.
To mitigate risk of a serious breach and avoid Breach Notification requirements, your storage encryption needs to be consistent with Guidance issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
These materials are intended to provide helpful information to dentists and dental team members. They are in no way a substitute for actual professional advice based upon your unique facts and circumstances. This content is not intended or offered, nor should it be taken, as legal or other professional advice. Neither the ADA nor its affiliated entities make any representations or warranties, of any kind or any nature, whether express or implied, created by law, contract or otherwise, including, without limitation, any representations or warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement. You should always consult with your own professional advisors (e.g. attorney, accountant, insurance carrier). To the extent ADA has included links to any third party web site(s), ADA intends no endorsement of their content and implies no affiliation with the organizations that provide their content. Further, ADA makes no representations or warranties about the information provided on those sites.