The Computer Company offers HIPAA compliance solutions Hartford and surrounding area businesses can depend on. HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, is a set of regulatory standards that disclose the lawful use of protected health information (PHI). The Health of Human Services (HHS) regulates these laws, and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces them. Medical facilities must all make sure they are completely HIPAA compliant in order to avoid the problems that stem from noncompliance. There is no alternative to being HIPAA compliant. These rules must be followed, and all data must be stored and used properly.

OCR maintains the systems by providing routine guidance on emerging issues influencing health care and investigating HIPAA violations. This is why every medical business will face a HIPAA audit at some point. It is the responsibility of healthcare organizations to protect the security, integrity, and privacy of protected health information. TCC helps customers do just that.

HIPAA

Requirements of HIPAA Compliance

There are two types of organizations need to be HIPAA compliant.

Covered Entities: Any organization that accumulates, designs, or transmits PHI electronically. These include healthcare clearinghouses, healthcare providers, and health insurance providers.

Business Associates: Any organization that uses PHI throughout their work that has been contacted and contracted by a covered entity to work on their behalf. These include billing companies, EHR platforms, MSPs, IT providers, shredding companies, faxing companies, and more.

All covered entities and business associates must address the following requirements to be HIPAA compliant:

  • Remediation plans
  • Self-audits
  • Policies, procedures, and employee training
  • Documentation
  • Incident management
  • Business associate management
HIPAA

Elements of an Effective Compliance Program

The HHS OIG (Office of Inspector General) formed these seven elements to provide organizations with guidance on how to create effective compliance programs:

  • Implementing all written policies, standards of conduct, and procedures.
  • Appointing a compliance office and compliance committee.
  • Conduction of practical training and education.
  • Creating effective lines of communication.
  • Conducting internal monitoring and auditing.
  • Imposing standards through well-publicized disciplinary guidelines.
  • Quickly addressing detected offenses and implementing corrective actions.

Keep in mind that these seven elements are just the minimum requirements for organizations to have an effective HIPAA compliance program. In case of a HIPAA violation, OCR will investigate, and federal HIPAA auditors will compare your company’s compliance program to these elements to determine its effectiveness. Organizations must follow all compliance requirements to stay safe.

Let TCC help your organization become compliant to HIPAA regulations.