Are you a healthcare provider that feels overwhelmed by all the HIPAA guidelines? You’ll benefit from a concise HIPAA compliance checklist that makes following the guidelines much more manageable. As the Florida medical billing experts, PracticeForces helps healthcare providers like you maintain HIPAA compliance in medical billing. Keep reading to discover how.
What Is HIPAA Compliance?
The HIPAA law helps protect patient records and sensitive information from inappropriate use and access. An organization in compliance takes the mandatory steps to safeguard patient data. HIPAA basics include the following:
- Privacy rules that regulate how you use protected health information
- Physical, administrative, and technological security practices
- Instructions for enforcing rules and imposing penalties for HIPAA violations
- Guidelines for reporting violations and data breaches
- Rules for how business associates handle PHI
Who Must Comply With HIPAA Rules?
If you are a covered entity or business associate, you must remain compliant with HIPAA. A covered entity includes any organization that provides healthcare services to patients, including hospitals, chiropractors, insurance agencies, and pharmacies. A business associate refers to any company that provides services to a covered entity, including accountants, lawyers, information technologists, and medical billing specialists.
The HIPAA Compliance Checklist
You can use the following HIPAA compliance checklist to help ensure you abide by all the HIPAA compliance requirements.
Assessments
You must conduct regular audits, which include the following assessments:
- Identifying potential security risks and developing a plan to address them
- Evaluating the effectiveness of your privacy efforts
- An administrative assessment that evaluates your staff’s understanding of and adherence to policies and procedures
- An audit of your business associates ensuring their HIPAA compliance
Documentation
HIPAA requires extensive documentation about various audits, training, and more. Confirm you have documentation for the following:
- Any deficiencies identified during your assessments
- All training events
- Established security and privacy policies and procedures
- Breaches in security or violations of guidelines
Communication and Training
HIPAA outlines extensive guidelines for how to train your employees and communicate with patients if you experience an issue. Confirm you perform the following tasks:
- Clearly posted and communicated policies and procedures
- Regular training sessions about HIPAA compliance
- Assigning a designated staff person as the HIPAA compliance officer
Access Limitation
The HIPAA security rule dictates how you limit physical and digital access to PHI. Practice the following procedures:
- Limit access to PHI to only essential staff who require it for their duties.
- Limit facility and technological access to appropriate employees.
- Securely handle and dispose of PHI.
- Adequately respond to emergencies that put you at risk for data breaches.
Policies and Procedures
HIPAA’s section on policies and procedures includes the breach notification rule. Confirm you’ve instituted the following:
- Risk management policies
- Breach notification procedures
- Anonymous reporting methods
- Procedures for remote patient monitoring
Contact PracticeForces for Help
With this convenient HIPAA compliance checklist, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by the HIPAA law. You don’t have to manage the intricacies of your medical practice alone. PracticeForces maintains a team of experts who can answer all your questions and provide reliable and efficient medical billing. To learn about what our services can do for you, call (727) 202-5429.
