Disclosure of personal health information should protect patient confidentiality as much as possible. Where confidentiality cannot be maintained, clients should be informed about how their personal health information will be used and whether the information will be identifiable or anonymous. Coordination of healthcare in daily practice requires limited disclosure of information to other healthcare providers, companies related to client reimbursement or payment, and so on. ● Do you want protection if your client decides to sue you for any reason? The client records maintained in the practice are the client’s, and the practitioner is merely the keeper of the information according to HIPAA regulations (Neeley, 2016). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created different kinds of standards for submitting insurance information electronically. These are: 1. Electronic claims submission. If the practice conducts any of these eight actions electronically, they qualify as a “covered entity” under HIPAA. Covered information includes anything that can uniquely identify a client, such as his or her Social Security number, phone number, or even an IP address that identifies the client online (Neeley, 2016). In 2014, a new law was added stipulating that if a health care provider or his company is required to be HIPAA compliant, then anyone he releases information to must also be HIPAA compliant. This includes any subcontractors who work for the employer or agency.For further clarification, contact the employing agency, review state board requirements, and the official HIPAA website and documents. There is contact information on the HIPAA website to ask questions directly. State boards have requirements to protect client privacy, confidentiality, documentation, and record retention. Codes of Ethics address these issues as well. Even if the practice is not a covered entity under HIPAA, it is important to keep client information private and confidential. Records should be secured in a locked cabinet, and electronic files should follow encryption and password security protocols and be accessed only by appropriate staff. to the therapist, he gets the sense that she is being physically (and possibly verbally) abused. The therapist has heard rumors that the client's husband is involved in illegal activities and organized crime. The client begins to visit the massage clinic even when she does not have an appointment scheduled. Sometimes, she just reads the magazines and asks questions about massage. On appointment days, she arrives very early and lingers long after her session is over. She continues to increase the frequency of her appointments so that she receives two massages a week. The therapist senses that this is not a case of physical attraction and that the client just wants someone to talk to. 2. Enrollment checking. 3. Eligibility verification. 4. Health care explanation of benefits. 5. Health plan premium payment. 6. Health claims status. 7. Referral certification and authorization. 8. Coordination of benefits.
resist telling secrets or repeating gossip in their personal lives should be aware of the heavy penalties associated with jeopardizing client confidentiality in a professional context. Without an understanding that their disclosures will be kept secret, clients may withhold personal information. This can hinder caregivers in their efforts to provide effective interventions or to attain important public health goals (AMBP, 2022). HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects health care consumers’ privacy and stipulates certain rules be adhered to on the part of health care providers (HHS, 2020b). Massage therapists may need to follow HIPAA guidelines. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ definition of a health care provider is “any person or organization that furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course of business,” and any health care provider who transmits client records electronically in relation to any health care claim does need to be HIPAA compliant (HHS, 2020b). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects health care consumers’ privacy and stipulates certain rules be adhered to on the part of health care providers (HHS, 2020b). Massage therapists may need to follow HIPAA guidelines. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ definition of a health care provider is “any person or organization that furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course of business,” and any health care provider who transmits client records electronically in relation to any health care claim does need to be HIPAA compliant (HHS, 2020b). The following checklist may determine whether the massage therapist or bodywork professional must be compliant with the HIPAA Privacy Rules. Compliance is required if they answer, “yes” to the following questions (Neeley, 2016): ● Do you work for someone who files insurance claims, or do you file insurance claims? ● Do you complete an intake form for clients? ● Do you write session notes on clients? ● Do you work in a massage establishment with more than ten employees? ● Do you file claims with any clearinghouses, such as Availity or Office Ally? ● Do you have general liability insurance or malpractice insurance? ● Do you want to be covered if your session notes are subpoenaed for legal reasons? Case study A massage therapist has a private massage therapy practice in a small town. The therapist works at a clinic located in the center of town where five therapists share the office. One of his clients, an unemployed housewife, noted on her initial intake form that she rarely leaves the house, and that she arrived late because she got lost on the way to the clinic. Since then, she has been a punctual client for several months. Recently, though, she has been arriving to her appointments with bruises on her back and shoulders. Today, she arrived early with a bruise over her eye, which was covered up with make-up. When asked about the bruises, the client said that she “fell down.” Although the client has not mentioned anything personal
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Book Code: MFL1225B
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