In the digital age, we are constantly juggling data privacy concerns. Emergence of new technologies and regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), means healthcare organizations must be vigilant in protecting patient information from unauthorized access or use. Encryption is a powerful tool that protects patient data at rest and in transit. …
HIPAA authorization is an important part of safeguarding sensitive patient health information. It is necessary when Personal Health Information (PHI) is utilized or shared for actions that are prohibited under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. As a covered entity, if you fail to comply with this component of HIPAA, you are subject to penalties. 📋 Quick…
According to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA-compliant covered entities and their business associates can release and utilize protected health information (PHI) for purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations without an individual’s consent. However, in all situations, when such private information has to be revealed, it should be in accordance with the HIPAA minimum necessary…
HITRUST is widely recognized as a go-to framework by experts. It’s known to be one of the most comprehensive frameworks in structure, comprising 14 Control Categories, 19 Domains, 49 Control Objectives, 156 Control References, and 3 Implementation Levels. With such complexity, achieving compliance with HITRUST is no small feat. In this article, we’ll explore the…
The HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) provides direction to healthcare entities to implement safeguards for the privacy and security of patients’ protected health information (ePHI) and ensure HIPAA compliance. However, the first crucial step in this direction is to conduct a HIPAA risk assessment, which identifies critical risks and security loopholes. Risk assessment helps…
Every organization should be able to recover quickly from any disaster that stops day-to-day operations. It goes without saying that without a recovery plan in place to handle disasters, organizations not only lose sensitive data but also cause irreparable reputational damage. The same applies to the healthcare industry. To ensure moderation and consistency, HIPAA has…