The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules establish federal requirements for ensuring patient health information is protected. Compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security regulations can help ensure health information is not accessible to hackers, bad actors and others that pose a threat to patients’ privacy and security.
For health care providers, although complex, compliance with HIPAA is especially important. The federal government can impose severe sanctions on organizations found in violation of HIPAA. Federal regulations for meaningful use and MACRA/QPP also require participating providers to perform a security risk assessment each year to be eligible for incentives or bonuses.
The Kentucky REC can help with navigating HIPAA’s requirements to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of patient information. We offer two services to aid health care organizations: Security Risk Analysis and Project Management services.
For more information on these services, click the boxes below or contact the Kentucky REC today.
HIPAA Privacy and Security Reminder: Security Official Designee
It is paramount that your organization has identified the security official who is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures covering HIPAA security. Once this employee has been identified, that information needs to be conveyed to ALL other staff in the organization. Having everyone know to whom to turn to for HIPAA related security questions will save time in the event of a possible breach. Having these items in place keeps you in compliance with CFR 164.308(a)(2).
This reminder is part of a series of HIPAA Security Reminders from the Kentucky Regional Extension Center. These reminders can be used by covered entities and business associates looking to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule’s CFR §164.308(a)(5)(ii)(A), which states, “Security reminders (Addressable). Periodic security updates.”
Feel free to share this with your workforce/staff to remind them of the importance of safeguarding protected health information (PHI), especially PHI that is in electronic form (ePHI). A new security reminder is posted at the beginning of each week. If you have any questions or would like to speak to someone at the REC about HIPAA Privacy and Security please call (859) 323-3090.
Security Risk Analysis
A Security Risk Analysis is an accurate and thorough analysis of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic patient health information (ePHI).
Project Management Services
Planning is essential to mitigating risks. Whether it’s a policy limiting the use of unencrypted portable devices or testing back-ups to ensure a disaster recovery plan is effective, having a strategy and a plan helps prevent the unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of ePHI.
