HIPAA Compliance, the health care act for fundamental health information security
What is HIPAA Compliance?
To start with, what is HIPAA? HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. On the other hand, the compliance talks about those who are meant to protect the HIPAA policies. So, we will find out who and who is to protect and play by the rules of HIPAA, after we have known the rules of HIPAA.
Meanwhile, just like the name sounds, that is exactly what it is up to. Thus, HIPAA is a policy that protects the health information of a patient. However, health care operators must comply with the policy of HIPAA.
The Privacy Rules of HIPAA
The HIPAA is with aim to protect an individual’s health information. Mind you, it can be information stored technically or otherwise. What do I mean? As long as an individual’s health information is identifiable, HIPAA has a role to play. That is to say, they establish the standards for the protection of certain health information. For example, it has a standard to protect specific health information that is been transferred in electronic form.
Who are the complaints for the HIPAA?
Since HIPAA is a recognized act, it’s designed for some persons to meet the requirements, right? Here are there:
- Anyone that provides treatment, payment, and other operations in healthcare
- Anyone who has access to patient information and provides support in treatment and payment or promotion
Remember, the HIPAA security rules guide the information of a patient. So, it must be intact.
Privacy and Security Rules on HIPAA
Anyone who violates the privacy and security rules has a cross to carry. That is to say, her entity will face the penalties established by the U.S Department of health and human service, under the office of civil rights.
In addition to the privacy and security rules, HITECH has placed penalties to anyone who violates the rules.
Benefits of HIPAA Compliance
- It is a computer based thing so it improves efficiency and mobility of healthcare data
- it improves security risk
- The presence of security rules makes it safer than ever
- HIPAA is an improved patient care technology
- The security rule is flexible to allow covered entity implement policies, technology and procedures,
- Lastly, only authorized personnel have access to the electronic PHI (e-PHI)
Access Control To HIPAA
Access control to ensure only authorized personnel access e-PHI is as follows:
- Unique user ID
- Automatic log-off
- Emergency access procedures
- IT disaster recovery and offsite backup
- Network/transmission security
- Tracking logs for records of activity on hardware or software
- Encryption and decryption
Criteria for meeting HIPAA compliance
- Meet HIPAA and HITECH regulations for access, integrity controls, data transmission, and device security
- Put to measures the security and availability of PHI to build the trust of practitioners and patients
- make sure you employ the use of sensitive data control throughout the organization
Above all, ensure you protect patient data in all forms, documents, scans, and emails.
HIPAA Recent Updates
Currently, we have a prospect of what may become in months to come. Here are there:
Update on the penalties of HIPAA violation
This time around, violations of HIPAA rules and policies will attract potential fines and penalties. The fine range starts from at least $25,000. Of course, the higher the violation the more the fine you attract when you violate the rules.
Additional Guidance or Regulations Regarding Opioids
Note that the overuse and addiction of Opioids in America have been labeled as a crisis and an epidemic. On that note, new legislation has been promised to help sort out this issue over this controversial drug. Do you know what that means? It will definitely cause further changes to HIPAA. In short, Just keep your eyes all open for more updates on it.