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5 simple steps to HIPAA compliance
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a set of regulations designed to protect the privacy of patients’ health information. If your business deals with any kind of protected health information (PHI), then you need to be HIPAA-compliant. Luckily, achieving compliance is not as complicated or daunting as it may seem. This article will outline five simple steps you can take to get your business HIPAA-compliant.
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is a federal law that safeguards PHI such as bio data and medical records. HIPAA requires covered entities, such as healthcare providers and insurance companies, to take measures to keep patient health information private.
There are two main parts to HIPAA compliance: the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule. The Privacy Rule establishes national standards for protecting PHI. It requires covered entities to take steps to protect patient health information from being accessed, used, or disclosed without authorization. In the HIPAA rules, covered entities are health plans, clearinghouses, and healthcare providers who electronically transmit health information in connection with transactions covered by The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS establishes national standards for securing patient health information.
Complying with HIPAA is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing process. Covered entities must continually assess their compliance efforts and make changes as needed to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule.
5 simple steps to HIPAA compliance
The Security Rule requires covered entities to take measures to protect patient health information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This includes implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
Administrative safeguards
Policies and practices known as administrative safeguards help in mitigating data breaches. They focus on documentation procedures, job descriptions, training needs, data maintenance guidelines, and more. Administrative safeguards help ensure that technological and physical safeguards are applied correctly and consistently.
Physical safeguards
Data is physically secured by physical safeguards such as door or window locks, security cameras, server and device locations, and security systems. They even cover mobile device rules and the removal of hardware and software from certain sites.
Technical safeguards
Technical safeguards are the solutions implemented to prevent unauthorized access to data such as PHI. To secure PHI, each covered entity must decide which technical measures are required and suitable for the organization. The HHS states that you need to “establish a balance between the identifiable risks and vulnerabilities to ePHI, the cost of various protective measures, and the size, complexity and capabilities of the entity.”
HIPAA compliance is mandatory for all healthcare organizations, and failure to comply can result in heavy fines.
If you are a healthcare provider, here are five simple technical safeguard measures you can take to ensure you are in compliance with HIPAA:
- Keep security measures up to date: This includes having strong password protection on all devices and computers that contain patient health information. Be sure to update passwords regularly and never share them with anyone.
- Train employees on HIPAA: All employees who have access to patient health information must be trained on HIPAA and understand the importance of protecting this information. Make sure employees know how to properly handle and store patient information.
- Limit access to patient information: Only allow employees who need access to patient information to have it. When possible, limit this access to only the minimum amount of information needed.
- Dispose of patient information properly: When you no longer need patient information, make sure it is disposed of properly. This includes shredding any paper documents and deleting any electronic files that contain patient information.
- Keep up with changes to HIPAA: The HIPAA regulations are subject to change. Stay up to date on any changes, and update your policies and procedures accordingly.
The HIPAA compliance process can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. By following these five simple steps, you can ensure that your business is compliant with all HIPAA regulations. Doing so will protect your patients' privacy and give them peace of mind knowing that their information is safe.