The focus of this course are the privacy and security provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the foundation for federal protections of health care information, including updates in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH). The course will also discuss additional international, federal and state health privacy laws, and the application and enforcement of those laws as they relate to privacy and security in the health care setting. The objectives of this course include learning how to: (i) identify situations that implicate HIPAA and how to appropriately navigate the Department of Health and Humans Services' resources; (ii) understand which provisions of the privacy and security law and rules apply to given situations and how to apply those provisions; and (iii) understand the significance of sound security measures in an era of increasing electronic crimes. Given the breadth of the subject matter and the short time allotted, students will not be expected to understand the full depth and complexity of applicable laws and rules; they will, however, be expected to understand key definitions and basic concepts under HIPAA and be proficient in navigating the healthcare privacy landscape. Grading: Credits: Offered: Subject Areas: Health Law
