HIPAA regulations can be difficult to understand from the convoluted text of the law itself. But, that is the way the legal system works. Laws have to be so detailed and specialized that the language becomes so difficult only a handful of highly trained individuals can decipher them. Hence the high cost of lawyers and legal fees. With just a little digging though, HIPAA regulations can make a lot more sense. Here's what you need to know.

HIPAA Regulations At A Glance

HIPAA regulations are designed to ensure the privacy of verbal communication in a medical setting. Because of the highly intimate and important nature of health related concerns, oral communication receives the same privacy protection as written information under HIPAA regulations. This is meant to safeguard patients, doctors, and insurers against possible misrepresentation and misuse of confidential information.

Since these guidelines must hold up in a court of law, privacy must be scientifically defined and measured. In order to do this, several groups such as ASTM, ANSI, and ISO have set forth standards on privacy. Privacy is broken down into subcategories depending on its level and measured on the Articulation Index. The privacy of speech is either unacceptable, normal, or confidential depending on where the speech level falls on the Articulation Index.

Doctors and insurers are required to make reasonable accommodations to safeguard the privacy of spoken information. While such accommodations are not detailed explicitly, the courts can decide what are reasonable accommodations. No retraining or excessive expense has to be taken by health care providers to guarantee speech privacy.