Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail Pharmacy

[Guest guest]

Hi -

This is handy basic info. I'd like to either 'Link' it or 'File' it,

but only if I can give credit full credit to the original author(s)

Would you please give me the source of your info?

Many thanks,

Dora

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it. It

answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but it

does answer a lot of general questions.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Hi Dora,

I got this in an e-mail at work (CVS Pharmacy). We have a company intra-net so

I suppose someone at CVS corporate must have put it together (either one author

or multi-sourced) but there is no author(s) name on it anywhere. Sorry. I

would like to give credit where credit is due but unfortunately in this case I

don't know the answer.

Sincerely,

Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

________________________________________________________________________________\

________________________

Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail

Pharmacy

Hi -

This is handy basic info. I'd like to either 'Link' it or 'File' it,

but only if I can give credit full credit to the original author(s)

Would you please give me the source of your info?

Many thanks,

Dora

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it. It

answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but it

does answer a lot of general questions.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Dora

Thanks for reading my mind,

Love ya

J

> >

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

> on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

> Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it.

It

> answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but

it

> does answer a lot of general questions.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Dear Dora and ,

Perhaps it can be included as 'anonymous source - CVS " or " anonymous

source " ? Your call .

I am going to be adding a section in my Retail classes on HIPPA so

this came in very handy.

Thanks again

Jeanetta

> >

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping

up

> on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

> Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it.

It

> answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but

it

> does answer a lot of general questions.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Thank you for this input. I suspect with new Item Writing for PTCB

coming that the next two years will have new questions added

regarding HIPPA. I expect 2004 to have the first HIPPA questions.

But then again this will depend upon any changes made in it between

now and then. If it can stand still and remain constant law for

awhile then it will be in the exam soon. If however the law keeps

changing, then the test questions would be out of date or not apply.

But I expect the basics of HIPPA to be addressed in PTCB exams 2004 .

If not then 2005.

There is currently and historically the issue of confidentiality on

the PTCB exam (see practice exam).

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem

Founder/Educator

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it. It

answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but it

does answer a lot of general questions.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

>

______________________________________________________________________

__________________________________

>

> Q. What does HIPAA stand for?

>

> A. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act of 1996.

>

> Q. What is the intent of HIPAA?

>

> A. HIPAA provides national standards to ensure the protection

of individuals' medical records and other personal

> health information.

>

> - It gives patients more control over their health

information.

> - It sets boundaries on the use and release of health

records.

> - It establishes appropriate safeguards that health care

providers and others must achieve

> to protect the privacy of health information.

> - It holds violators accountable, with civil and criminal

penalties that can be imposed if they

> violate patients' privacy rights.

> - It strikes a balance when public responsibility

supports disclosure of some forms of date - for example

> to protect public health.

>

> Q. What is Protected Health Information (PHI) ?

>

> A. Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any patient

information in any form that:

> - is created or received by a covered entity;

> - relates to a patient's health condition in the past,

present, or future;

> - and identifies the patient.

> PHI is any information transmitted or maintained in any

form, such as prescription records, billing records,

> patient profiles, and oral communications on the phone or

during patient counseling.

>

> Keep the HIPAA Privacy standards in mind any time you are

handling any health information that

> pertains to a patient.

>

> Q. What does HIPAA require the average provider of health plan

to do?

>

> A. For the average health care provider or health plan, the

Privacy Standards require activities such as:

> - Notifying patients about their privacy rights and how

their information can be used

> - Adopting and implementing privacy procedures for its

practice, hospital, or plan

> - Training employees so that they understand the privacy

procedures

> - Designating an individual to be responsible for seeing

that the privacy procedures are adopted and followed

> - Securing patients records containing protected health

care information so they are not readily available

> to those who do not need them.

>

> Q. How will HIPAA Privacy Standards impact retail pharmacies?

>

> A. Under HIPAA, retail pharmacies must:

> - Provide a Notice of Privacy Practices

> - Make a good faith effort to obtain acknowledgement of

receipt of notice

> - Afford Certain Rights to Patients - including the

following (if requested):

> (1) provide the patient with his/her profile

> (2) provide an accounting of non-patient requested

disclosures of that patient's PHI

> (3) provide means to seek amendment of a patient's

record

> - Limit incidental use and disclosure. Make reasonable

efforts to avoid being overheard when discussing PHI

>

> Q. Will pharmacy staff be able to fill a prescription without

receiving prior written consent from the patient?

>

> A. Yes, the final Privacy Standards did away with mandatory

consent. You do not need to get a patient's consent

> in order to process a prescription for him/her. The final

version of the standards relies on giving a " notice

> of privacy practices " in place of obtaining the patient's

signed consent.

>

> Q. Will HIPAA Privacy Standards require community pharmacies

to alter their store lay outs?

>

> A. No, the pharmacy staff must " make reasonable efforts to

avoid being overheard " when discussing PHI.

>

> Q, Will a patient be able to have a friend or family member

pick up their prescription?

>

> A. Yes, the fact that a friend arrives at the pharmacy

asking to pick up a specific prescription for a patient

> effectively verifies that the friend is involved in the

patient's care.

>

> Q. Are pharmacy staff members required to explain the Notice

of Privacy Practices to patients?

>

> A. The Notice of Privacy Practices is written in plain

language so that the average reader will be able

> to understand it. Patients who have further questions

should be directed the pharmacist in charge or

> other designated office.

>

> Q. Can the pharmacy distribute the Notice to patients as

part of other publications or communications?

>

> A. Yes, the notice may be printed along with other

communications such as a receipt or drug monograph.

>

> Q. Is the pharmacy required to respond to requests for the

notice from the general public?

>

> A. Yes, the pharmacy must provide the notice to any person

who requests a copy, in order to allow

> individuals to the notice to compare pharmacies' privacy

practices to select a pharmacy.

>

> Q. Is the pharmacy required to obtain an acknowledgement?

>

> A. No, the pharmacy is required to make a good faith effort

to obtain acknowledgement. The patient may

> refuse to acknowledge receipt of the notice.

>

> Q. May the pharmacy use the existing Third Party/Consultation

log book to comply with the acknowledgement

> requirements?

>

> A. Yes, the pharmacy may have the patient sign or initial an

acknowledgement within the existing log book,

> as long as the log book clearly indicates what they are

acknowledging.

>

> Q. What is the incidental use and disclosure clause?

>

> A. Many customary health care communications and practices

play an important role in ensuring that

> individuals receive prompt and effective healthcare.

Due to the nature of these communications, as

> well as the various environments in which individuals

receive healthcare from covered entities, the

> potential exists for the individual's healthcare

information to be disclosed incidentally. For example,

> a waiting customer may overhear a pharmacist counseling

another patient.

>

> The HIPAA Privacy Standards are not intended to impede

these customary and essential communications.

> Instead, HIPAA requires that the covered entity has in

place " reasonable safeguards " and minimum necessary

> policies to protect an individual's privacy.

>

> Q. What is the Minimum Necessary concept?

>

> A. Once concept prevalent in the HIPAA Privacy Standards is

that patient privacy should be protected by

> minimizing the amount of private information that is

given out about a patient, and minimizing where the

> information is sent.

>

> The Privacy Standards require that you make a

reasonable effort to limit PHI to the minimum required

> to accomplish what needs to be done.

>

> Q. Will Pharmacists still be able to share patient

information with prescribers?

>

> A. Yes, the minimum necessary standard does not apply to

disclosures to, or requests by a health care

> provider for treatment.

>

> Q. What are the Patient Rights that HIPAA provides?

>

> A. HIPPA provides the following patient rights:

> - right to obtain Notice of the Privacy Practices of

the pharmacy

> - right to obtain a copy of his/her pharmacy records

(the pharmacy has 30 days to provide a patient

> with a copy)

> - a patient can request a change to his/her pharmacy

records (the pharmacy has 60 days to determine

> whether the change is appropriate and then correct

the records if necessary)

> - right to obtain an accounting of disclosures (non-

routine use only)

> - right to request a restriction of use and

disclosures of PHI (the pharmacy must review the request and may

> refuse the additional privacy if deemed appropriate)

> - right to file a complaint regarding privacy

infractions

> - right to authorize that PHI be used or disclosed for

purposes other than treatment, payment, or

> health care operations

>

> Q. What are HIPAA's requirements regarding accounting of

disclosure?

>

> A. Patient's may request an " accounting " which is a list

of certain instances going back as far as 6 years

> in which their information was disclosed to a third-

party, other than themselves, outside the realm of

> treatment, payment, and other health care operations.

>

> The pharmacy has 60 days to provide the patient with

an accounting of these disclosures including the date,

> name and address of the individual to whom the

information was provided, a brief description of the

> disclosure, and the reason for it.

>

> The patient's right to an accounting begins on April

14, 2003 and does not require accounting of

> disclosures made prior to that date.

>

>

> Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download :

http://explorer.msn.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanetta, Dora and Everyone,

I think giving credit to " anonymous source - CVS/Pharmacy " would be great. Glad

I could help out. I have more in-depth information pertaining to retail

pharmacy only but from what I've seen much of this law is open to interpretation

and implementation as each pharmacy sees fit.

Sincerely,

Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

________________________________________________________________________________\

_____________________

Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail

Pharmacy

Dear Dora and ,

Perhaps it can be included as 'anonymous source - CVS " or " anonymous

source " ? Your call .

I am going to be adding a section in my Retail classes on HIPPA so

this came in very handy.

Thanks again

Jeanetta

> >

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping

up

> on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

> Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it.

It

> answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but

it

> does answer a lot of general questions.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - when did you get the HIPAA made easy memo?

MsBeth CPhT

Lead Technician

Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail

Pharmacy

Hi -

This is handy basic info. I'd like to either 'Link' it or 'File' it,

but only if I can give credit full credit to the original author(s)

Would you please give me the source of your info?

Many thanks,

Dora

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it. It

answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but it

does answer a lot of general questions.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

Thursday or Friday.

Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail

Pharmacy

Hi -

This is handy basic info. I'd like to either 'Link' it or 'File' it,

but only if I can give credit full credit to the original author(s)

Would you please give me the source of your info?

Many thanks,

Dora

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it. It

answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but it

does answer a lot of general questions.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

[Guest guest]

I'll have to check my briefcase - I know I downloaded stuff from RXNET but I

can't remember what it is ..

I have a question ... I've seen this as both HIPAA and HIPPA does any one know

are these separate things or the same thing?

And did anyone else do the CE (saw it mentioned somewhere) it was like 6 hours

long. Does any one know of an additional CE for the HIPAA going on in the

northeast??? I'm in MA but could travel if it wasn't too far.

MsBeth CPhT

Lead Technician

Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail

Pharmacy

Hi -

This is handy basic info. I'd like to either 'Link' it or 'File' it,

but only if I can give credit full credit to the original author(s)

Would you please give me the source of your info?

Many thanks,

Dora

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping up

on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA Made

Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from it. It

answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long but it

does answer a lot of general questions.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

[Guest guest]

Dear and Dora,

Since that is an " agreement " then I say go for it Dora; and thank you

again . Whenever you have time, Dora.

Thanks,

Jeanetta

F/O

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi Everyone,

> > >

> > > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having popping

> up

> > on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA

Made

> > Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from

it.

> It

> > answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long

but

> it

> > does answer a lot of general questions.

> > >

> > > Sincerely,

> > >

> > > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth-

It really HIPAA which stands for Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act of 1996. Its also know as Public Law 191-104. If

you see it posted as HIPPA its either because the person is

unfamiliar with the anacronym or its a typo.

Sincerely,

Dora

> >

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having

popping up

> on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA

Made

> Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from

it. It

> answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long

but it

> does answer a lot of general questions.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Guilty as charged! I for a long time thought it was HIPPA, then when

I found out it is HIPAA I found myself typing it wrong as a typo, not

from fingers miskeying but a brain cramp!

HIPAA! HIPAA! HIPAA1 HIPAA! HIPAA! HIPAA!

I CAN DO IT! I ANC DO IT! YEAH!

THANKS FOR FINDING THIS ERROR AND REPORTING IT!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem

Founder/Owner

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi Everyone,

> > >

> > > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having

> popping up

> > on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA

> Made

> > Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from

> it. It

> > answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long

> but it

> > does answer a lot of general questions.

> > >

> > > Sincerely,

> > >

> > > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dora ...

Re: General Q & A About HIPAA and Retail

Pharmacy

Hi Beth-

It really HIPAA which stands for Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act of 1996. Its also know as Public Law 191-104.

Sincerely,

Dora

> >

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I've noticed recently that many HIPAA questions having

popping up

> on several different forums. I received the following " HIPAA

Made

> Easy " hand out at work and I think we could all benefit from

it. It

> answers general questions about the new act. It is a bit long

but it

> does answer a lot of general questions.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT

>

>

>

>