What Is The Meaning Of HIPAA Risk Assessment Consultants?

HIPAA Risk Assessment Consultants

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 1996 put forth data privacy and security guidelines to protect medical information. It is applicable to any medical practice, health insurance plan, third party clearing house or any other business that deals with healthcare.

HIPAA is divided into 5 Titles out of which Title 2 defines the policies, procedures and guidelines for maintaining the security and privacy of individual healthcare information. A HIPAA compliant business ensures that the medical information of a patient is kept secure and confidential.

It has a number of components to be considered if an entity has to be compliant lawfully. Such entities are called ‘covered entities’. HIPAA risk assessment consultants can help you attain your compliance goals. It requires a good execution plan along with defined milestones.

Title 2 also states the offenses related to healthcare and sets the civil and the criminal penalties if violated. HIPAA is divided into Privacy rule, Security rule and Breach rule.

The Privacy rule helps to set national standards to protect certain health information. The Security rule sets security standards to protect certain health information held or transferred in electronic form. The Breach rule allows the HIPAA covered entities and its associates to provide notifications following a breach.

HIPAA certification process

The key elements of a business are assessed and an actionable scope is defined as per the business requirements.

Approved assessors and auditors will take a closer look at the organization’s business processes, controls implemented, existing and potential business requirements and compare it with the HIPAA requirements. A gap assessment is done.

An internal audit is conducted by the auditors to determine the status of the implemented HIPAA controls that are in compliance with the regulations and the organization’s policy procedure requirements.

Benefits of HIPAA compliance

HIPAA compliant companies will have a reduced risk of breaches and they will be able to avoid costly fines.

A HIPAA compliant business can demonstrate to everyone that their information is secure with you and this will result in an increased business.

In case of data breach there will be no negative effect on your business reputation if you comply with the standard.