HIPAA privacy policy template serves as an example for other industries HIPAA laws have been in effect for many years, making the regulations considerably ahead of their time. The privacy policy template underpinning U.S. health care providers’ commitment to patient data privacy during an era of heightened cyber insecurity serves as something of a beacon…
HIPAA privacy can be complicated, but help is out there For many years, privacy compliance was largely a behind-the-scenes initiative. Patients cared far less about their personal data than they did about their care. Today, however, electronic communication and digital health services are adding new layers of privacy risks. As a result, patients very much…
HIPAA security is a higher priority than ever before; fortunately, plenty of help is available Becoming compliant with the HIPAA Security Rule is an intense process that could distract physicians and other health care providers from patient care. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to keep caregiving on track while maintaining compliance with HIPAA…
What is meaningful use and other HIPAA HITECH questions answered What is meaningful use and how does it apply to the HITECH act? It’s a common question among health care professionals, including private practice owners, in this era of intense regulation. Understanding the implications really comes down to having a good grasp on meaningful use…
HIPAA business associates can make or break your HIPAA compliance effort HIPAA business associate agreements have become one of the most critical contracts a healthcare provider has in place. That’s because massive volumes of private patient data flows to and from these entities 24×7, putting the providers who hire them at massive cybersecurity risk. HIPAA…
HIPAA release forms and similar documents are “musts” in the highly regulated health care industry. What would a day in the life of a health care employee be without HIPAA forms? Although pesky at times, these important documents really do make a difference to the overall security and privacy of patient data. The forms come…
Several HIPAA violation cases in the past year involved poor decisions and behavior on the part of health care industry employees. HIPAA violations in 2018 raked in a record $28.7 million in enforcement fines. While certainly massive, it’s important to note this total includes the whopper fine levied against Anthem. In that one HIPAA violation…
HIPAA-compliant entities have shored up every aspect of the organization, from email to paper, waiting room to cloud server. The complexity of today’s omni-channel health care delivery means HIPAA-covered entities must pay attention to the compliance aspects of an almost overwhelming number of touch points. While resources like a HIPAA compliance checklist can be helpful,…
