As the world of cyber threats keeps changing and we become more concerned about the security and privacy of our data, healthcare organizations are turning to trusted partners to handle large volumes of sensitive information, like PHI (Protected Health Information).

That's why comprehensive business associate agreements have become absolutely essential. These agreements play a vital role in ensuring compliance, maintaining security, and protecting privacy. They help create a strong and trustworthy partnership that keeps your information safe and sound.

Have you ever wondered how personal health information is kept safe and secure?

Let us to introduce you to HIPAA – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. HIPAA is a federal law that establishes national standards to protect the confidential health information of patients, ensuring it doesn't get disclosed without your consent or knowledge.

Its Privacy Rule grants you control over how your health information is used, enabling us to deliver high-quality healthcare while safeguarding public health. In this blog, we will explore the key aspects of HIPAA, including covered entities, protected health information (PHI), electronic protected health information (e-PHI), and compliance requirements.

Covered Entities and Transactions:

Let's delve into who HIPAA applies to. As healthcare providers, we fall under its umbrella, regardless of the size of our practice, if we electronically transmit health information in certain transactions. These transactions include claims, eligibility inquiries, referral authorization requests, and other HIPAA-governed transactions defined by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Protecting PHI and e-PHI:

HIPAA's Privacy Rule plays a vital role in safeguarding your PHI, but there's more to it. The Security Rule steps in to protect a specific subset of information known as electronic protected health information (e-PHI). This encompasses individually identifiable health information that we, as covered entities, create, receive, maintain, or transmit electronically. It's important to note that the Security Rule doesn't cover PHI transmitted orally or in writing.

Compliance with HIPAA Security Rule:

To ensure compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule, we have certain responsibilities to fulfill. First and foremost, we must ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all e-PHI. We diligently identify and address potential threats to information security, taking proactive measures to safeguard against them. Additionally, we protect against any unauthorized uses or disclosures that go against the rule. Our commitment to compliance extends to certifying the adherence of our workforce to these regulations. It's all about keeping your information secure and protected!

Healthcare companies can only disclose protected health information to a provider for the purpose of helping them carry out healthcare functions, and only as necessary for proper management and administration, Not for their own commercial purposes.

According to the privacy rule, a company must obtain satisfactory assurances from its provider that they will appropriately protect the protected health information they receive or create on behalf of the company. These assurances should be in writing, whether through a contract or another agreement between the company and the provider. This way, everyone involved understands how the PHI and other confidential information should be stored, transferred, and handled.

At Xipe, we also conduct risk assessments and implement a review of information system activity, security incident procedures, and access controls to ensure we provide a top-notch service that aligns with the needs of your company and the end-user. We take security seriously, and we're committed to helping you deliver better service to your patients. 

Any doubt about how to nearshore your software development in the Healthcare industry? Book a call.