Computing Technology Solutions (CTS) provides high-level data protection to meet HIPAA standards. Our cybersecurity specialists can perform a thorough evaluation of your company’s PHI databases. CTS offers services to perform data backups, email encryption, and apply effective security solutions. Contact a CTS consultant to discover how to ensure HIPAA compliance for your company.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulates access to health records. It provides security for the patient’s Protected Health Information (PHI). These are the main guidelines for HIPAA compliance:
- Privacy Rule
A person’s right to control the use of their information. - Security Rule
Safeguards to protect your personal information. - Enforcement Rule
Guidelines on compliance and penalties for violations. - Breach Notification Rule
Provide notification if there are security breaches.
In 2013, Identity Theft Resource Center reported almost 5 million HIPAA security violations. It is crucial for anyone handling PHI to undergo HIPAA compliance training. Failure to comply could result in security breaches and costly penalties.
What happens if you don’t comply with HIPAA?
You could face these 5 serious risks from HIPAA non-compliance. Bear in mind that these will depend on the severity and assessment of the violation.
- Disciplinary action from the employer
Your employer could conduct an internal inquiry for any HIPAA violation. This could leave a bad impression on your professional record. - Grounds for termination of employment
Your HIPAA non-compliance act can put a lot of stakeholders at risk. The company may have to discharge you to achieve compliance and restore good faith. - Sanctions from professional boards
A professional board might investigate if you made a serious HIPAA violation. Sanctions may include fines or probation. Or worse, you could even lose your license to practice. - Civil penalties
Civil penalties apply when you’re aware of the HIPAA rules yet violated them. Or you should’ve known about it if you practiced due diligence. Fines range from $100 per violation to $25,000 for committing the same act many times. - Criminal charges
Criminal penalties are more severe. Fines are much higher for willful HIPAA non-compliance. It can be from $50,000 to $250,000. You’ll be liable to pay for damages. You’ll also serve jail time for violating HIPAA’s criminal provisions.
HIPAA compliance covers anyone with access to PHI. This includes medical providers, healthcare plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and business associates. Credit or debit card data protection in healthcare services has different requirements. In this case, you should apply for Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance.. Know the risks with The 6 Consequences Of Not Being PCI Compliant.
How to secure healthcare data for HIPAA compliance
If you’re involved in healthcare information, you should undergo HIPAA compliance training. You should enforce secure access of PHI to the appropriate entities. You’ll need the services of a qualified IT firm to fulfill the HIPAA requirements.
Computing Technology Solutions can provide high-level data protection to meet HIPAA standards. Our cybersecurity specialists can perform a thorough evaluation of your company’s PHI databases. We can perform data backups, email encryption, and apply effective security solutions. Contact a CTS consultant to discover how to ensure HIPAA compliance for your company.
Improve your healthcare services with the benefits of HIPAA compliance. You’ll spare yourself the hazards of database breaches and painful penalties. And you’ll reassure potential partners for providing secure platforms to healthcare information.