Does HIPAA apply to my organization?

If your organization reduces patient information to an electronic format for any purpose, then you will be required to comply with the HIPAA privacy and security standards covering information security and physical and personnel security. In many cases, paper records are covered by the provisions of the HIPAA mandate as well.

HIPAA requires a complete reassessment of the healthcare industry's information security infrastructure. The immense number of issues relating to the implementation of measures, policies and procedures in existing and proposed legislation causes many organizations to view HIPAA compliancy as a major financial challenge. However, long-term compliance promises a full return on investment.

Why you want to be compliant:

Compliance with the mandates of the administrative simplification and security components of the Act will enable health care organizations and providers to realize operational savings that will offset initial expenditures over the long term.
Increased use of electronic data interchange will also decrease operational costs through savings in labor, postage, and increased reimbursement speed and accuracy.
A secure environment for personnel, property and sensitive medical records helps to foster employee and patient confidence.

Why you don't want to be non-compliant:

Damaged reputation, loss of confidence by physicians and health care consumers, loss of industry accreditation and patient lawsuits are all potential consequences of non-compliance.
Failure to comply with HIPAA guidelines carries with it significant regulatory fines and criminal penalties.

HIPAA presents an opportunity for health care organizations and providers to achieve greater operating economies through the increased use of electronic transfer of health care information.

In order to achieve these cost savings, however, administrative simplification requirements of HIPAA must be met. Health care organizations and providers now have a period of less than eighteen months to achieve compliance AND to demonstrate and maintain your compliance posture.

How close are you to HIPAA readiness?

Health care organizations and providers should now be concentrating on assessment and implementation of HIPAA compliance measures. Running behind schedule? Contact HIPAA Planners for HIPAA consulting today at info@hipaaplanners.com to find out how to get started.