HIPAA Statewide Agency Training

In 1996 Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to improve the health care system. This act required Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a national standard in regards to health care codes, transitions and security. All states within the United States are required to follow these regulations.

Privacy Rules

• On April 14, 2003, a national standard for privacy rules in regards to health plans, clearinghouses and providers who use electronic transactions was implemented. On April 20, 2005, heath care providers also had to follow a security rule that protected patient confidentiality.

HIPAA Training

• Anyone who has, or could potentially have, access to patient records is required to have HIPAA training. There are different training modules designed around the person's responsibilities. HIPAA 101 is the most basic and covers the privacy and security rules. This is designed for volunteers and other employees who work in a heath care setting but do not have access to records. Employees with direct access to patient records must take a more in-depth training.

Certification

• Most training sessions are given through the employer. The federal government does not issue a certificate upon completion, and once taken, the training does not have to be taken again.