The Importance of HIPAA for Medical Office Administrators
Medical office administrators hold front-desk responsibilities like medical record keeping, insurance billing and appointment scheduling. However, their duties don’t end there. One of the more significant responsibilities a medical office administrator is tasked with is ensuring HIPAA compliance. Medical administrators must ensure that their practice complies with all aspects of HIPAA regulations, including training staff on proper handling of patient information, implementing security measures to safeguard electronic patient records and maintaining the confidentiality of patient health information. Failure to comply with HIPAA regulations can result in significant fines and penalties, as well as damage the practice’s reputation. Since a medical office administrator’s essential duty is to keep the medical office running, it’s likely you’ll be the unofficial (or perhaps official) HIPAA officer and ensure all staff members understand and comply with HIPAA regulations. If you’re thinking about becoming a medical office administrator, you’ll need to learn HIPAA laws before you’re ready to implement them in your day-to-day work. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It’s a federal law that sets national standards to protect the privacy, security and confidentiality of patients’ medical information. The law was enacted to provide patients with greater control over their health information while also ensuring the privacy and security of that information. HIPAA applies to all healthcare providers, including medical offices, hospitals, clinics and insurance companies. It also applies to anyone who handles patient information, including medical office administrators. The law outlines strict guidelines for the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI), including patient names, addresses, Social Security numbers, diagnostic results and treatments. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a Medical Office Administrator, consider enrolling in the program offered by St. Louis College of Health Careers. Our comprehensive program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the field, including training on HIPAA compliance. To learn more or to St. Louis College of Health Careers, call 866-529-2070.