In 1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed. This law provided standards to ensure security of dictated patients’ records.
Its aim is to improve efficiency in the healthcare system by standardizing a common electronic data interchange with privacy and security through encryption.
This law also facilitates the payment of health insurance and prevents fraud and abuse. Lower labor costs outside the United States results in savings in administrative costs and, with the security controls in place, health care records can be outsourced.
The HIPAA objectives are:
- To ensure privacy and security of dictated patients’ records through encryption.
- To promote efficient healthcare systems through standardized electronic data interchange.
- To facilitate availability and affordability of health insurance.
The HIPAA requirements that need to be followed are:
- Hospitals’ old files must be digitized and must conform to HIPAA standards.
- If outsourced, new patients’ dictated records to be transcribed must be encrypted during file transfer.
- 128-bit encryption must be observed during transfer of completed transcribed files.
To address these needs and to solve healthcare organizations’ cost problems, we now offer the services of DataMed Transcription Solutions, a Philippine-based medical transcription company positioned to providing quality, affordable, reliable, timely and secure medical transcriptions.
