Keep Your Clients Happy, Healthy … and Compliant
With HIPAA Regulations, Healthcare Organizations Need Efficient & Secure IT Systems Now More Than Ever Before
What matters the most to healthcare professionals is the ability to provide exceptional healthcare services to their patients. But, in an increasingly regulated industry, how does the average healthcare organization manage expenses while maintaining the highest patient-care standards? One easy way is by leveraging IT services to improve efficiencies and security.
Over the years, healthcare IT systems have allowed healthcare organizations the ability to provide a better level of patient care. Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) have revolutionized the industry. However, with these technology enhancements have come risks and compliance guidelines that must be met to secure patient information and maintain patient-care standards.
HIPAA
In 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) strengthened the privacy and security protections for health information established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, HIPAA Breach Notification Rule and HIPAA Enforcement Rule mandate that all healthcare providers, covered entities and business associates must meet HIPAA and HITECH compliance rules.
The HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules are focused on healthcare providers, health plans and other entities that process health insurance claims. The final Omnibus Rule became effective on March 26, 2013. Covered Entities and Business Associates, regardless of size, must be compliant with most of the final rule’s provisions, including the modifications to the Breach Notification Rule and the changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
The Security Rule & Risk Assessment
The objective of the Security Rule is to protect the privacy of individuals’ health information while allowing covered entities to adopt new technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care.
The healthcare market is diverse, so the Security Rule is designed to be flexible and scalable. In this way, a covered entity can implement policies, procedures and technologies that are appropriate for the entity’s particular size, organizational structure and risks to consumers’ e-PHI.
The Security Rule applies to health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and to any healthcare provider who transmits health information in electronic form in connection with a transaction for which the Secretary of HHS has adopted standards under HIPAA.
The Administrative Safeguards provisions in the Security Rule require covered entities to perform a risk assessment as part of their security management processes. A risk assessment includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:
• Evaluate the likelihood and impact of potential risks to e-PHI
• Implement appropriate security measures to address the risks identified in the risk assessment
• Document the chosen security measures and, where required, the rationale for adopting those measures
• Maintain continuous, reasonable and appropriate security protections
The risk assessment and the analysis of it is an ongoing process. The covered entity regularly reviews its records to track access to e-PHI and detect security incidents, periodically evaluates the effectiveness of security measures put in place, and regularly reevaluates potential risks to e-PHI.
Get Your Organization Compliant with CCPlus IT Services & Solutions
Our HIPAA Security trained and certified team provides healthcare IT services and solutions that support your healthcare organization and empower your caregivers and administrators to practice within the HIPAA regulations. From the latest emerging technologies, to day-to-day support, you’ll have access to the best healthcare IT solutions so you can deliver the level of care your patient’s deserve while complying with the new regulations.
CCPlus IT Services & Support for HIPAA
With our IT services and solutions, you drastically simplify HIPAA compliance efforts, reduce costs and improve business efficiency as we:
• Manage compliance with new & updated regulations
• Revise & administer HIPAA policies & procedures
• Assess key risk areas & test processes to best manage risks
• Handle privacy fractures
• Reorganize required reporting & notification processes
• Provide privacy policy & procedure manuals
• Analyze risk assessments
• Deliver risk management plans
• Offer security awareness training
• Prepare documentation reviews
• Consult on new, updated & existing requirements
Our IT services and solutions are:
• Customized to meet all standards for your practice or business
• Designed to allow you to focus on running your practice or business full-time
• Based on our team’s combined 40 years of experience in government regulations
• Affordable & scalable packages priced for your practice or business