Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), was the result of efforts by the Clinton Administration and congressional healthcare reform proponents to reform healthcare. The goals and objectives of this legislation are to streamline industry inefficiencies, reduce paperwork, make it easier to detect and prosecute fraud and abuse, and enable workers of all professions to change jobs, even if they (or family members) have pre-existing medical conditions.

The HIPAA legislation has four primary objectives:

1. Assure health insurance portability by eliminating job-lock due to pre-existing medical conditions
2. Reduce healthcare fraud and abuse
3. Enforce standards for health information
4. Guarantee security and privacy of health information

HIPAA affects us because we all should be aware of how our medical records and medical-related information is maintained, stored, and eventually, destroyed. In addition to shredding confidential medical records, the Document Destruction Division at Randy’s Environmental Services can also destroy all types of electronic media, including microfiche and magnetic tape.

How to Comply….

Contracting with a National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) member like Randy’s Environmental Services Document Destruction Division to shred all discarded medical information is the best way to comply with HIPAA. Service can be arranged on a schedule that suits any home or office situation. It is the most economical alternative no matter how small or large the need. Most importantly, your documents are securely disposed by professionals who are insured, bonded, and trained in document shredding.