HIPPA Compliance

HIPAA, stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, is a US federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge It was designed to ensure that patients have control over their personal health information and that this information is kept secure.

What are main components of HIPPA ?

HIPAA has two main components: the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule. The Privacy Rule covers protected health information (PHI) in any medium, ensuring that this information is kept private and secure. The Security Rule, on the other hand, covers electronic protected health information (ePHI), and it requires all covered entities to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all e-PHI. Linked to this there are 5 titles which are :
  1. Title I – HIPAA Health Insurance Reform: This title protects health insurance coverage for individuals who lose or change jobs. It also prohibits group health plans from denying coverage to individuals with specific diseases and preexisting conditions and from setting lifetime coverage limits.
  2. Title II – HIPAA Administrative Simplification: Directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish national standards for processing electronic healthcare transactions. It also requires healthcare organizations to implement secure electronic access to health data.
  3. Title III – HIPAA Tax-Related Health Provisions: This title includes tax-related provisions and guidelines for medical care.
  4. Title IV – Application and Enforcement of Group Health Plan Requirements: This title further defines health insurance reform, including provisions for individuals with preexisting conditions and those seeking continued coverage.
  5. Title V – Revenue Offsets: This title includes provisions on company-owned life insurance and the treatment of those who lose their U.S. citizenship for income tax purposes.

Who are the covered entities under HIPPA?

Covered entities include health plans, healthcare providers, and healthcare clearinghouses. Apart from this all the business associated in storing and managing the healthcare data records of patients must also follow parts of the HIPAA regulations. These often include contractors, subcontractors, and other outside persons and companies that are not employees of a covered entity.

How ProDash is HIPPA Compliant ?

To ensure our operations is fully compliant with HIPAA regulations, especially as we are associated healthcare records data storing and managing. To be compliant we have undertaken the following-:

We Conduct a Security Risk Assessment: Under the Security Rule, we have completed a HIPAA risk assessment. This risk analysis helps us understand the threat landscape, define the risk tolerance, and identify the probability and potential impact of each risk. Since Both covered entities and business associates are required to complete periodic risk assessments, we typically carry out risk assessment on every 6 months.

Implementing Safeguards: We have implemented These include administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, and technical safeguards in order to protect health care records.

Designated a HIPAA Compliance Officer/Authority/Team: We have partnered with HIPPA compliance officers/teams who are responsible for monitoring HIPAA compliance over time. Through their activities they ensure security and privacy policies are followed and enforced, conduct privacy training for our employees, completing periodic risk assessments, developing security and privacy processes, investigation of any security incidents and data breaches, creating a disaster recovery plan, and ensuring our implementation of the Security Rule’s administrative, physical, and technical safeguards

HIPAA Training for All Staff That Interface with PHI: We conduct proper HIPAA training sessions for all employees handling and managing PHI. This enables and guides them to protect the records and also be familiar with HIPAA regulations and rules. We conduct his exercise once in every 4 months.

How we use HIPPA Compliance in Cloud Computing?

Understanding HIPAA: HIPAA is a U.S. law designed to provide privacy standards to protect patients’ medical records and other health information provided to health plans, doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers. It includes the Security Rule, the Privacy Rule, and the Breach Notification Rule

Shared Responsibility: Complying with HIPAA is a shared responsibility between the cloud service provider and the customer. The cloud service provider should ensure that their infrastructure, applications, and processes are designed and configured to protect PHI (Protected Health Information). On the other hand, the customer is responsible for their own HIPAA compliance, including managing patient data and ensuring that their use of the cloud service aligns with HIPAA requirements

Business Associate Agreements: To maintain HIPAA compliance, the cloud service provider and the customer need to enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). The BAA defines the responsibilities of each party, including the security and privacy of PHI

Security Measures: The cloud service provider should implement strong security measures to protect PHI. This includes encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. The provider should also ensure that their infrastructure and operations are regularly audited by independent third parties

Training and Awareness: Both the cloud service provider and the customer should receive training on HIPAA requirements and best practices for handling PHI. This includes understanding the rights of patients under HIPAA, such as the right to access their medical records and the right to amend incorrect information

Breach Notification: In the event of a data breach, the cloud service provider should have a process in place to notify affected individuals and healthcare providers in accordance with HIPAA regulations