The health information technician is on the front line as champion for health information privacy. Requirements for the maintenance of medical records and health information are only one important matter with which HITs must be concerned. How health information is used and under what circumstances it can be disclosed are equally important. The HIPAA Privacy Rule and changes provided by ARRA underscore the importance of health information privacy and have increased the responsibilities of HIM professionals.

Outline and explain the precautions that a HIM Department should follow that will reduce the risk of medical identity theft? What could be some of the consequences of accidentally disclosing health information? What causes of action do you believe a patient or others should have if their information is wrongly disclosed?

1 page, approx 200 words