If you are a business owner who deals with sensitive health information, then you need to be aware of HIPAA compliance. This is a set of regulations put in place by the government to ensure that all medical information is kept confidential. If you are not familiar with HIPAA compliance, or if you need help making sure that your business is compliant, then read on. In this blog post, we will discuss six things you need to know about HIPAA compliance!
What Is HIPAA Compliance?
HIPAA compliance is a set of regulations that businesses must follow in order to protect the confidentiality of sensitive health information. These regulations are put in place by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In order to gain more information about this, keep reading. Also, remember if you need help with this, consult a professional.
1. What Are The HIPAA Regulations?
There are four main regulations that makeup HIPAA compliance:
-The Privacy Rule – this rule establishes national standards for the protection of confidential health information.
-The Security Rule – this rule establishes national standards for the security of electronic health information.
-The Breach Notification Rule – this rule requires businesses to notify individuals if their confidential health information has been breached.
-The Enforcement Rule – this rule outlines the penalties that businesses may face if they violate the HIPAA regulations.
2. What Are The Consequences Of Non-Compliance?
If you are found to be in violation of HIPAA regulations, you could face stiff penalties. These include fines of up to $50,000 per violation and up to five years in prison. In addition, your business could be subject to civil lawsuits.
3. How Can You Ensure Compliance?
There are a few steps you can take to ensure that your business is in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
-Educate yourself and your employees about the regulations.
-Put policies and procedures in place to protect sensitive information.
-Regularly audit your compliance.
-Work with a HIPAA compliance consultant.
4. Become HIPAA Compliant With Compliance Solutions
There are a number of compliance solutions that can help you become HIPAA compliant. These solutions will help you to put the necessary policies and procedures in place, and they will also help you to train your employees on compliance. For example, some compliance solutions are:
-Policy and Procedure Management – This feature helps you to develop and manage policies and procedures that comply with HIPAA regulations.
-Employee Training – This feature provides employees with the training they need to understand and comply with HIPAA regulations.
-Audit Management – This feature helps you to audit your compliance on a regular basis.
-HIPAA Compliance Consultation – This feature provides you with access to a team of HIPAA compliance experts who can help you ensure compliance.
All these solutions will help you to better protect the confidential health information of your patients or clients.
5. What Is The HIPAA Compliance Timeline?
The compliance timeline depends on the size of your business. Small businesses have up to six months from the date they become covered entities to comply with the regulations. Larger businesses have up to one year. Also, keep in mind that the compliance timeline is always changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest deadlines. For example, the deadline for compliance with the Security Rule was recently extended to September 23, 2013. The compliance timeline can be confusing, but there are resources available to help you stay on track.
-The HHS website offers a compliance checklist that can help you to keep track of deadlines.
-You can also work with a HIPAA compliance consultant to ensure that you are meeting all of the deadlines.
-The US Department of Health and Human Services also offers a toll-free compliance hotline that you can call for assistance.
6. How Much Does HIPAA Compliance Cost?
The cost of compliance depends on the size of your business and the compliance solutions you use. However, it is important to note that the cost of non-compliance can be much higher. For instance, if you are found to be in violation of the HIPAA regulations, you could face fines of up to $50,000 per violation. Or, if your business is subject to a civil lawsuit, you could be responsible for the legal fees. This means that compliance is an investment that can save you money in the long run.
If you are a business owner, it is important that you familiarize yourself with HIPAA compliance. These regulations are designed to protect the confidentiality of sensitive health information, and failure to comply can result in stiff penalties. By educating yourself about the regulations and working with a HIPAA compliance consultant, you can ensure that your business is in compliance.