Impact of HIPAA on the integrity of healthcare information
by Jane Fedorowicz, Amy W. Ray
International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management (IJHTM), Vol. 6, No. 2, 2004

Abstract: Although most patients' interactions with HIPAA end with signing a patient information release form when visiting their doctor, HIPAA is also intended to protect the integrity of that information as it flows among the many healthcare providers, insurers, and clearing houses that will process it. Information integrity is critically and strategically important to healthcare organisations today. Considering information integrity implications of HIPAA requirements can help healthcare administrators identify strengths and weaknesses in their stored information and in the ways in which it is shared with business partners and other healthcare providers. In this article, we describe the impact of HIPAA on information integrity as well as the information integrity challenges that still lie ahead for healthcare organisations. After a brief overview of general information integrity issues related to information sharing across multiple healthcare organisations, we discuss integrity concerns specific to the primary components of the administrative simplification provision of HIPAA, including transaction codes and standards, unique identifier codes, information privacy and information security. The articles closes with a call for additional research to document the true impacts and costs of the legislation, to produce a framework with which practitioners can make informed choices about information integrity issues.

Online publication date: Mon, 26-Jul-2004

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