HIPAA set various penalties to cub PHI breaches
Before the HIPAA formation, there was no comprehensive set of security standards to protect the health information in medical sectors. At the same time, there was technological advancement where the medical industries introduced electronic data to keep health records and other clinical functions. Therefore, there was a need to formulate a medical privacy policy to minimize the disclosure of health information without the consent of the owner (Koch, 2016). Yet, the HIPAA frequently encounter PHI breaches. These breaches include hacking, theft, disclosure of health information, and improper disposal. The aforementioned breaches occur in entities such as health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers.
In fulfillment of health information security, the HIPAA set various penalties to cub PHI breaches. The penalties are broken into four main categories, namely tier 1, tier 2, tier 3, and tier 4, depending on the level of violation and finance. For tier 1, the entity is charged a fine ranging from $100 to $50,000 for every violation. Tier 2 can attract a fine ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 for every violation. Tier 3 is charged a minimum fine of $10,000 for every violation. However, this fine can attract a maximum fine of $50,000. The last category of penalty is tier 4, which attracts a fine of $50,000. Such penalties can be supplemented with a one-year, five-year, and ten-year imprisonment for tier 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Koch, 2016). Even so, the penalties are not fair since various entities continue to violate the rules.
However, it is necessary to hold HIPAA training for every employee in possession of PHI. The employees include HIM, technology network administration, and regulatory compliance. Unlike other employees, technology network administrator requires a high level of HIPAA training. Therefore, it is essential to offer this training during the induction of new staff or when HIPAA affects some of their policies.