HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is a United States legislation that was passed in 1996. The act sets national standards for the security and privacy of health information.
HIPAA requires healthcare providers and business associates to take steps to protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information. If you are a healthcare provider or business associate, it is important to understand HIPAA compliance requirements! In this article, we will discuss what HIPAA is and how it affects you.
Why Was HIPAA Created?
HIPAA was created to improve the portability and continuity of health insurance coverage. It also aimed to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the healthcare system. The Privacy Rule was added to HIPAA in order to protect the confidentiality of patient health information.
What Does HIPPA Cover?
The Privacy Rule covers all protected health information (PHI). PHI is any information that can be used to identify an individual and that is created or received by a healthcare provider or business associate. This includes things like name, address, birth date, Social Security number, medical records, and more.
What Are The Requirements for HIPAA Compliance?
There are four main requirements for HIPAA compliance:
Administrative safeguards: These are the policies and procedures that you put in place to protect PHI.
Physical safeguards: These are the physical security measures that you take to protect PHI.
Technical safeguards: These are the technical security measures that you take to protect PHI.
Organizational requirements: These are the requirements for business associates.
If you are a healthcare provider or business associate, it is important to understand these requirements and how they apply to you. Failure to comply with HIPAA can result in hefty fines.
Contact the Billing Department Today to Maintain HIPAA Compliance
If you have any questions about HIPAA or need help getting compliant, contact the billing department today. Our team of experts can help you understand the requirements and put in place the policies and procedures that you need to stay compliant.