Category: HIPAA
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HIPAA and the Holidays
As the holiday season builds momentum we are faced with numerous distractions like holiday decorations, taking advantage of online sales and soaking in the traditions that we look forward to each year. But this season of joy and giving should also be met with a heightened sense of awareness and adherence to HIPAA policies and…
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Office of Civil Rights Issues Guidance on HIPAA in Light of Opioid Crisis
With an increased focus on opioid use and addiction, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights has issued guidance related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 due to misunderstandings over when a health care provider can share an individual’s protected health information in situations of overdose or…
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How to Make HIPAA Disclosures During Mass Tragedies
In light of the recent incident in Las Vegas, the Office of Civil Rights, the government entity responsible for HIPAA Compliance, issued clarification guidance on the ability of a health care provider to share patient information during such situations. While such incidents are taxing on health care providers in terms of treating capacity and ability,…
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A HIPAA Contingency Plan: Yes, It’s Boring. Yes, You Must Do It.
When was the last time you reviewed your entity’s Contingency Plan? If it has been awhile, or never, you need to get to work. In light of recent natural disasters and ransomware attacks, the necessity of thorough and documented contingency planning, to include backup and disaster recovery, has become a focus for health care entities.…
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Is Your HIPAA Contingency Plan Adequate?
Your response to this question may include one of the following answers: What in the world is a Contingency Plan? I think we did that, but I’m not sure where it is. I know we did one a while back, but we haven’t looked at it in a while. If any of these responses sound…
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A Risk Analysis Is Your Entity’s Annual HIPAA Checkup
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires all covered entities to conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of electronic protected health information (ePHI). This process must be documented as a Risk Analysis. Covered entities must develop a Risk Analysis at their inception…
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How Can You Avoid a HIPAA Mega Breach?
A HIPAA breach often occurs when a health care entity wrongfully discloses the protected health information of a patient or client. These incidents can occur by accident, like faxing patient information to the wrong fax number. They can also be the result of willful or intentional acts, like employees who gather patient information for the…
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The Cost of Non-Compliance with HIPAA Regulations Can Cripple Your Practice
The Basics of HIPAA Privacy and Security The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that covered entities comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule and Breach Notification Standards set out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR). These covered entities include health plans, health care…