HIPAA Laws utmost importance during Katrina

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also known as HIPAA has been touted as a major step in affording patients their proper privacy protections, as the law and regulations outline the parameters and limitations in which providers and businesses can access, share, and transfer certain protected health information of individuals as well as security requirements.

Since many medical records were lost during Katrina a network was set up within 10 days to allow doctors to share medical records. One of the major problems were HIPPA laws, but the network administrators were careful and complied. Regulators did allow the suspension of some laws in order to provide the medical needs for those in dire need.

There have been several class action law suits against companies even universities that have not complied with HIPPA laws. Even the movement of photographs and medical information linked with legal cases have become huge problems for entities that have vowed to maintaining the privacy of patients.