HIPAA / Healthcare Industry

When comparing HIPAA compliance service providers, there are four key factors to target:

• Their approach to access control, which is critical for HIPAA Privacy Rule compliance
• Their capacity for risk assessment and management for the HIPAA Security Rule
• Their visibility and communications infrastructure for HIPAA Breach Notifications
• Their ability to help you meet all your regulatory compliance needs efficiently

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a U.S. law signed on August 21, 1996, that sets national standards for protecting sensitive patient health information. HIPAA was created to ensure that personal medical records remain private, secure, and accessible only to authorized individuals, while still allowing patients to access their own data.

Before HIPAA, most healthcare records were stored in paper form, and there were no federal laws regulating how health data could be shared or protected. As the healthcare industry shifted toward electronic systems in the 1990s, lawmakers recognized the need to secure digital records while keeping them available for patient care.

Since its adoption, HIPAA compliance has evolved through major updates to address new technologies and cybersecurity risks. In this article, we’ll explain how HIPAA has changed over time, why it matters for healthcare and data security, and share practical tips for staying compliant.

If your organization works in or around the healthcare industry, you may fall under the category of a HIPAA covered entity. Determining this is critical because if HIPAA applies, your organization must comply to avoid costly fines and protect patient data.

Key takeaways:

• Whether you qualify depends on the type of data your organization collects, stores, or transmits
• There are three main types of HIPAA covered entities.
• All covered entities are required to follow specific HIPAA privacy and security rules.
  

Frameworks like HITRUST CSF can help organizations streamline and standardize HIPAA compliance.

The HIPAA Security Rule protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI). To stay compliant, organizations must conduct regular HIPAA security risk assessments and implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. These measures help identify vulnerabilities, reduce risks, and ensure ongoing compliance.

If your organization needs expert guidance on HIPAA security requirements, RSI Security can help — schedule a free consultation today.

A HIPAA violation can result in significant fines, penalties, and, in severe cases, even jail time. The consequences depend on the severity of the violation and how your organization manages protected health information (PHI).

To avoid HIPAA violations and protect your organization, it’s essential to follow compliance best practices. Request a consultation with our experts today to ensure your PHI stays secure.

With the passing of the Omnibus Rule, HIPAA came into its present form. Protections from the Privacy and Security Rules are now more stringent. And failure to meet any of the HIPAA rules is now met with greater fines, even when the organization doesn’t realize it broke a rule.

These are trying times for the healthcare industry. Resources across various facilities are being exhausted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and previously unforeseen levels of traffic. But that’s not all: cyberattacks on the healthcare sector rose 150 percent in just the early stages of the pandemic, according to one report. The need for cyberdefense is clear. Now, more than ever before, penalties for HIPAA violations pale in comparison to other threats compliance can assuage.

Organizations both within and adjacent to healthcare need to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). One major component of HIPAA compliance is preventing breaches. However, if one appears to have happened, a breach determination and risk assessment will determine whether you need to follow Breach Notification requirements.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) exists to secure protected health information (PHI). Most companies that provide healthcare services and their strategic partners need to implement HIPAA controls to protect stakeholders from cybercrime threats. Want to know if your company is a HIPAA-covered entity? Keep reading to discover if you are and what HIPAA compliance entails.

Healthcare organizations and their partners face growing privacy and security risks when handling patient data. To safeguard this information, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) sets strict requirements.

One of its most important provisions is the HIPAA Security Rule, which outlines how electronic protected health information (ePHI) must be stored, transmitted, and accessed securely.

The Security Rule is built on three main components that every covered entity and business associate must follow. Understanding these components is essential for compliance, and for protecting sensitive patient data against cyber threats.