{"id":79721,"date":"2024-06-30T15:05:31","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T07:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/?p=79721"},"modified":"2024-06-28T15:12:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T07:12:38","slug":"what-is-hipaa-and-how-can-you-comply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/zh\/2024\/06\/what-is-hipaa-and-how-can-you-comply\/","title":{"rendered":"What is HIPAA and how can you comply?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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<\/p>

The process of managing patient health data isn\u2019t the same as it was a few years back. Records aren\u2019t just stored in filing cabinets and on company devices anymore, they\u2019re in the cloud.<\/span><\/p>

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (<\/span>HIPAA<\/span>) standardized how private health information (PHI) and electronic private health information (ePHI) is managed. The act details how organizations should keep patient information safe and secure, inside and outside healthcare practices.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

If you deal with PHI or ePHI \u2013 whether that\u2019s as a healthcare provider or a business working with healthcare providers \u2013 you need to comply with <\/span>HIPAA rules<\/span>. This guide gives you a whistlestop tour of <\/span>HIPAA compliance requirements<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But before we dive into the details of how you can ensure you comply with HIPAA, let\u2019s take a quick look at what\u2019s at stake.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section>

The cost of non-compliance<\/strong><\/h3>

Failure to comply with HIPAA requirements can result in fines up to $68,928 per violation per year, civil lawsuits, and criminal charges.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section>

4.9 million<\/p><\/div>

people affected by a data loss at Tricare Management.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
$115 million<\/div>
settlement following a class action lawsuit against Anthem, Inc, in addition to a $15 million fine for HIPAA violations.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
$2 billion<\/div>
total HIPAA penalties issued since 2003.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Depending on the severity of the violation, HIPAA fines can seriously hurt an organization financially. But there\u2019s more. If an organization is found to have been lax with keeping sensitive data safe, they will be the focus of public scrutiny which can severely damage the brand\u2019s reputation and further hinder recovery and operations.<\/span><\/p>

Let\u2019s look at how you can avoid this by examining the rules and requirements of HIPAA. <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section>

HIPAA rules: an overview<\/strong><\/h3>

The aim of <\/span>HIPAA<\/span> is to keep private health information, in all its forms, safe. For mandated organizations, this information must remain confidential both inside and outside healthcare facilities. If <\/span>HIPAA<\/span> rules are breached, organizations could face <\/span>penalties<\/span><\/a><\/span> ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands depending on the severity of the violation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Private health information could include a patient\u2019s medical conditions, the healthcare they receive, and payment for this care. It\u2019s health data that\u2019s individually identifiable for the patient.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

There are five parts to <\/span>HIPAA<\/span> legislation, known as titles. Each section focuses on a different aspect of using healthcare data. Where the first title regulates group and individual health insurance policies, the second title establishes privacy and security standards for protected health information. Here\u2019s the full list of titles:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

  1. Healthcare access, portability, and renewability\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  2. Preventing healthcare fraud and abuse, administrative simplification, and medical liability reform\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  3. Tax-related health provisions governing medical savings accounts\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  4. Application and enforcement of group health insurance requirements<\/span><\/li>
  5. Revenue offsets governing tax deductions for employers\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    In the next section, we focus on the second title because this is where guidance on keeping ePHI secure can be found under the Security Rule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    HIPAA rules<\/span> apply to two different groups: covered entities and business associates. Covered entities are organizations that provide treatment, healthcare plans, or deal in payments (healthcare clearinghouses). Business associates are companies working for covered entities that have access to PHI and ePHI \u2013 cloud storage companies, billing providers, and outsourced IT businesses.\u00a0<\/span>HIPAA compliance requirements<\/span> for the Security Rule vary slightly between these two groups, but both must follow the safeguarding rules outlined in the next section. <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section>

    The Security Rule<\/strong><\/h3>

    Effective <\/span>HIPAA compliance<\/span> relies on multiple policies, processes, and tools. The Security Rule is a core tenet of <\/span>HIPAA<\/span> legislation, which focuses solely on the protection of ePHI. This isn\u2019t just relevant for healthcare providers, but for third parties that come into contact with electronic health data through their partners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    The Security Rule requires organizations to protect ePHI through the following safeguards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Administrative safeguards<\/b> include risk analysis and mitigation strategies (plus regular process and policy evaluations), assigning security personnel, enforcing access management policies, proper training, management, and sanctions for your workforce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Physical safeguards<\/b> mean limiting access to physical data storage facilities, and policies that guide the use of devices and workstations. This could mean defining how work phones and laptops are used to access or manage ePHI, and how regularly passwords need to be updated.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    Technical safeguards<\/b> focus on the use of technology and digital tools. This includes setting up access and audit controls and monitoring access using hardware, software, and procedures. It also includes controls that prevent ePHI from being altered or destroyed incorrectly and security measures that protect against unauthorized access to ePHI transmitted over an electronic network (encryption).<\/span><\/p>

    With the help of these safeguards, you must:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>