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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

By Lora Jones


HIPAA, which stands for The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a United States act made to provide guidelines about health privacy standards. The act was made in order to prevent patients medical records from being accessed by people not authorized within the medical industry. A HIPAA consultant is a professional who is trained on the expertise and knowledge of the law. Such a professional can work with stakeholders in the healthcare industry like doctors, clinicians, and insurance companies offering medical cover. Below are helpful information on how interested people can become consultants.

It is important to consider that to become such a consultant, there are no laid down guidelines concerning the entry level requirements. Bearing in mind the complexity and professional nature of this line of work, it would an ideal choice to possess a bachelors degree. The degree should be inclusive of coursework and training related to the Act to prepare the student for entering the field.

For those with a degree but no background or education in the field, they can consider enrolling in a professional course for training. There are numerous training programs out there, especially online courses that they can explore and research. Community colleges or vocational schools also offer certificate programs.

Any person interested in becoming a consultant should know that it is one of his or her duties to inform others about the act. During training, consultants are taught about rules of privacy, compliance dates and the consequences that can befall those who fail to comply with HIPAA requirements. They are also taught on the course dealing with the management of patients health records.

Additional training should cover and give an overview of how the law influences the manner in which medical organizations maintain compliance and monitor the privacy and confidentiality of their patients. The applicant will get to know all the various components of the Act, such as which information is under protection, allowed uses and disclosures, organizational options together with requirements for administration.

HIPAA regulatory and statutory background training should be inclusive of coursework dealing with the general principle of disclosures and uses, enforcement and penalties for failure to comply with state laws. There are additional sections that include minors and other personal representatives.

Any consultant wannabe should take time to attend professional seminars and conferences that discuss matters of the act. Attending such seminars provides them with a chance to meet and share ideas with other professionals who work in the field. In addition, the wannabe will access a wide range of professional tolls and resources.

Another vital guideline involves joining a professional association that caters for health care specialists who deal with HIPAA consultation. A majority of the associations offer job opportunities together with curriculum vitae tips.

A potential HIPAA consultant is advised to visit several job boards found on the internet and register with them in order to receive regular updates. By doing so, they will be able to post their curriculum vitae online, hence making them more visible to firms that are actively recruiting consultants. However, they should ensure that they have all the necessary requirements and qualifications.




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