Why are new Security and Electronic Signature standards needed?
There were no existing standards that provided comprehensive and uniform protection of individual health information. HIPAA’s new security standards will permit appropriate access and use of an individual’s health information by health care providers, clearinghouses, and health plans while providing appropriate safeguards against misuse and dissemination. HIPAA will also mandate a new electronic signature standard for healthcare organizations when an electronic signature is employed in the transmission of a HIPAA standard transaction.
