HIPAA Covered Entities: Who Needs to Comply?
Anwita
Sep 30, 2024
If you own a healthcare business or provide a service to one, you probably manage patient data. While easy access to patient data is crucial to optimize care services, it should not end up in the wrong hands or accidentally leak. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) holds care providers and their service partners accountable by enforcing several regulations.
As more healthcare organizations or covered entities are facing expensive lawsuits due to data breaches, they can no longer afford to ignore patient privacy rights.
If you work in the healthcare industry, chances are you qualify as a HIPAA-covered entity – which means you must comply with its regulations. In this article, we define HIPAA covered entities, analyze their rights, and the rules they should comply with.
TL;DR
- HIPAA regulates the handling of patient data in healthcare businesses
- Covered entities, including health plans, providers, and clearinghouses, must comply with HIPAA regulations to protect electronic health information
- Covered entities have rights regarding patient data use, communication, and reporting
- Compliance is necessary to avoid legal issues, and tools like Sprinto offer solutions for monitoring and maintaining HIPAA standards