In Turbulent Times, Remain HIPAA Compliant

While there has been considerable change in the medical industry over the last few years, the importance of staying HIPAA compliant can’t be stressed enough. There are a few simple steps you should take to make sure you stay compliant, especially in times of change when keeping your business in line with regulations can be a challenge.
1. Risk Analysis
Creating a Risk Analysis or hiring outside help to run one is not just good practice, but a requirement of the HIPAA Security Rule. Here is a link to the HealthIT.gov Security Risk Assessment Tools, which you can use to run an assessment yourself. Keep it handy if anything t your practice changes, like systems, providers and/or locations. If these things change, check the assessment to ensure continued compliance.
2. System and Procedure Audits
Use scheduled reminders to check over your policies at least once a year. Include reviews on your process for accessing and sharing Protected Health Information and the systems that you use in your office or in the cloud to transmit or store the data.
3. Make Your HR Department the HIPAA Gatekeepers
Ensuring your Business Associates are HIPAA compliant can be a challenge, though documentation makes it more straightforward. Require a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with anyone who may come in contact with your patients’ data, and make sure these associates also have BAAs in place with their subcontractors (though this is not your direct responsibility), or you could face large fines if a breach were to occur.
4. HIPAA Compliant Business Associates
Ensuring your Business Associates are HIPAA compliant can be a challenge, though documentation makes it more straightforward. Require a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with anyone who may come in contact with your patients’ data, and make sure these associates also have BAAs in place with their subcontractors (though this is not your direct responsibility), or you could face large fines if a breach were to occur.
Do you need advice or direction about the steps needed to be HIPAA compliant?
Get peace of mind, contact Medical Web Experts to see how we can help you or view our blog to find out more about HIPAA Compliance.