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Federal HIPAA Law Compliance for Health Care Professionals

Target Audience: Pharmacist

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schedule 2.00 Contact Hours (0.20 CEUs)
category Law
local_activity Knowledge

Course Overview

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that protects sensitive patient health information. Sensitive patient health information may not be disclosed without the patient’s consent. This course discusses the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule, the Breach Notification Rule, and the penalties for noncompliance. In the modern health care system, technology is advancing rapidly. Clinicians need to keep pace with these changes.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the health care clinician’s role in HIPAA compliance
  • Describe HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
  • Explain penalties for HIPAA violations
  • Use this information to answer questions about protected health information

Faculty

Authors & Activity Planners
Gerald Gianutsos, Ph.D., J.D.
View Bio +
Gerald Gianutsos, Ph.D., J.D., is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. He graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy and M.S. in Pharmacology from St. John’s University. He received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Rhode Island and a J.D. degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Michigan State University School of Medicine. He was a member of the pharmacy faculty at UCONN for almost 40 years where he taught pharmacology and pharmacy law and authored more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts in neuropharmacology with an emphasis on antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs and drug of abuse. He is a three-time recipient of UCONN’s School of pharmacy teacher of the year award and maintains a continuing interest in pharmacy law, especially in areas involving drugs.
Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S.
View Bio +
Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S. is a licensed pharmacist and Freelance Medical Writer at Sardo Solutions in Texas.

I. Introduction

II. Evolution of HIPAA

III. HIPAA Rules for Covered Entities

A. HIPAA Privacy Rule
B. HIPAA Security Rule
C. HIPAA Breach Notification Rule

IV. Protected Health Information

A. Confidentiality and Substance Use Disorder Records
B. Disclosure of PHI Allowed in Some Circumstances

V. HIPAA Compliance and the HITECH Act

VI. Penalties for Violating HIPAA

VII. What’s Next

VIII. Summary

From October 14, 2025 through October 14, 2028, participants must:

  1. Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
  2. Study the section entitled "educational activity"
  3. Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)

Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.

Faculty Planner Disclosure

The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure

The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.

Please ensure the device you plan to use meets these requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
  • Supported Browsers: Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera
  • A connection to the internet

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.