As a healthcare consumer, you have a responsibility to be aware of the current laws and guidelines that affect the care you receive. Below are a few of these terms:

• HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a U.S. law designed to provide privacy standards to protect patients’ medical records and other health information. Developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, these standards provide patients with access to their medical records and more control over how their personal health information is used and disclosed. (“HIPAA.” Medterms. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2014.)


• HITECH: In 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act became law. The HITECH Act requires all of your health records to be created and kept electronically by your healthcare providers. (“HealthIT.gov.” HITECH Programs & Advisory Committees. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.)


• Affordable Care Act (ACA): Provides Americans with better health security through health insurance reforms that expand coverage; holds insurance companies accountable; lowers healthcare costs; guarantees more choices and enhances the quality of care. The ACA refers to two separate pieces of legislation — the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 — that together expand Medicaid coverage to millions, and improves Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). (“Affordable Care Act | Medicaid.gov.” Medicaid.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.)


• CPT Codes: A uniform process for coding medical services, which streamlines reporting and increases accuracy and efficiency. CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes allow healthcare professionals to communicate with colleagues, patients, hospitals and insurers about the procedures performed. (“CPT® Process – How a Code Becomes a Code.” CPT® Process – How a Code Becomes a Code. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2014.)

1. Team Response: Of the terms bulleted above, which is the most impactful on the care you receive and why?