Essay on Information Technology Acts

Submitted By kangarookase
Words: 411
Pages: 2

Week 1 individual Assignment
Information Technology Acts
BIS/220
February 22, 2013

In this assignment, we were directed to choose two acts that caused a change in information technology. For the first act, I chose “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” Which is also referred to as “HIPAA” For the second act I chose the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This act is also known as “FERPA” or “The Buckley Amendment” Both of these acts have had a tremendous impact on our society. I chose these two acts because they are both for our own protection in many ways.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
This act touches on a wide variety of issues that pertain to health care providers as well as insurance providers. The HIPAA act was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. Its initial purpose is to provide continued health care coverage to people when they change providers or lose their job. It also protects against health care fraud. Another purpose of this act is to protect a patient’s confidential information.
The HIPAA act has changed information technology in many ways, but most of all it has given the people privacy in all aspects surrounding their health care. People can now take comfort in knowing that their information is secure and confidential.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as FERPA, was passed in 1974. FERPA protects educational records and information obtained from schools. This act is not as complex as the HIPAA