If you have a question about HIPAA and your business, please let us know. ... According to HIPAA, if you are belong to the category of “covered entities” or “business associates,” and you handle “protected health information (PHI),” you and your business are required to be HIPAA-compliant.
The HIPAA Rules apply to covered entities and business associates. ... If an entity does not meet the definition of a covered entity or business associate, ... Health insurance companies; HMOs; Company health plans; Government programs ... Summary of the Privacy Rule-This is a summary of the key elements of the Privacy.
Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability are the fundamental objectives of health information security and the HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities and business associates to protect against threats and hazards to these objectives.
If you believe that a HIPAA-covered entity or its business associate violated your (or someone else's) health information privacy rights or committed another violation of the Privacy, Security, or Breach Notification Rules, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR can investigate complaints against covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, or health care providers that conduct certain transactions electronically) and their business associates.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) audit trails are records of electronic activities and transactions that are generated and maintained by covered entities and their business associates. These audit trails serve as a mechanism for tracking and monitoring access to electronic protected health information (ePHI) and other sensitive data. In terms of data security, HIPAA audit trails play an important role in ensuring that ePHI is protected from unauthorized access and disclosure. By tracking who accessed ePHI, when they accessed it, and what changes were made to it, covered entities and their business associates can identify and investigate any suspicious or unauthorized activities that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of ePHI. Moreover, HIPAA audit trails also help covered entities and their business associates to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule, which requires them to implement reasonable and appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect ePHI against threats and hazards. Therefore, HIPAA audit trails are a critical component of a comprehensive data security program, as they provide an essential tool for detecting and preventing unauthorized access to ePHI, as well as demonstrating compliance with HIPAA regulations.
a licensed medical provider of any kind
Yes. The following information is provided at the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. This section addresses the various entities that are subject to HIPPA rules. You can visit the official website for more information:http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.htmlYour Health Information Is Protected By Federal LawMost of us believe that our medical and other health information is private and should be protected, and we want to know who has this information. The Privacy Rule, a Federal law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. The Privacy Rule applies to all forms of individuals' protected health information, whether electronic, written, or oral. The Security Rule is a Federal law that requires security for health information in electronic form.Who Must Follow These LawsWe call the entities that must follow the HIPAA regulations “Covered Entities”.Covered entities include:Health Plans, including health insurance companies, HMOs, company health plans, and certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid.Most Health Care Providers—those that conduct certain business electronically, such as electronically billing your health insurance—including most doctors, clinics, hospitals, psychologists, chiropractors, nursing homes, pharmacies, and dentists.Health Care Clearinghouses—entities that process nonstandard health information they receive from another entity into a standard (i.e., standard electronic format or data content), or vice versa.In addition, Business Associates of Covered Entities must follow parts of the HIPAA regulations.Often, contractors, subcontractors, and other outside persons and companies that are not employees of a covered entity will need to have access to your health information when providing services to the covered entity. We call these entities “Business Associates.” Examples of business associates include:Companies that help your doctors get paid for providing health care, including billing companies and companies that process your health care claims.Companies that help administer health plans.People like outside lawyers, accountants, and IT specialists.Companies that store or destroy medical records.Covered Entities must have contracts in place with their Business Associates, ensuring that they use and disclose your health information properly and safeguard it appropriately. Business Associates must also have similar contracts with subcontractors. Business Associates (including subcontractors) must follow the use and disclosure provisions of their contracts and the Privacy Rule, and the safeguard requirements of the Security Rule.
if so, what has to be addressed in the policy?
be found guilty of criminal charges when violating patient confidentiality
Under HIPAA, the use of electronic transactions was mandated October 16, 2003. All covered entities must transmit and receive the covered transactions they conduct electronically in the new standardized HIPAA format (Version 4010).
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Are there requirements for covers entities to have written privacy policies? If so, what has to be addressed in the policy?