Want to avoid penalties and ignominy? Ensure HIPAA compliance!

If you are a Business Associate or a Covered Entity or a healthcare organization that hires either or both of these; it is time to roll up your sleeves. Inspectors from the Office of Health and Human Services (HHS) could knock your door at any time to carry out HIPAA inspections. If you are not in compliance in even a single aspect, it could open a can of worms.

Heightened vigilance from HHS

Of late, the HHS has stepped up inspections and audits like no one’s business, looking out constantly for even the smallest violation of HIPAA Privacy Security. It is especially after Business Associates and Covered Entities. Seen from the HHS’ viewpoint; its stance is unexceptionable: Statistics show that Business Associates or Covered Entities account for a hefty share of the pie, being responsible for two thirds of the data breaches.

Since these two are readily and easily identifiable sources of HIPAA Privacy Security violations; it is but natural for the HHS to target these. And the procedure for nailing the offender? All that is given is a thirty-day notice period to rectify the fallout of the error. If the prescribed steps are not implemented in full and in good faith, the offender is labelled to have done these breaches accompanied by the legal phrase, mens rea, meaning a guilty mind. This forms the basis for arraignment, leading to a decision on the nature and quantity of punishment.

Means of avoiding hefty penalties

Why should organizations avoid being lax in enforcing HIPAA Privacy Security? It is because the facts are there to see: In 2014, HIPAA settlements amounted to millions of dollars in penalties and fines, the most notorious and publicized case being that of New York and Presbyterian Hospital (NYP), which was ordered to cough up nearly $ 5 million to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

Shouldn’t this serve as a warning to healthcare organizations and Business Associates and Covered Entities to spruce up their security? Yes, and the ways by which they can do this is through sheer diligence. Diligence of the holistic and comprehensive type, that is.

Get to the root of the problem

Typically, HIPAA Privacy Security should be aimed at locating the possible sources through which data breaches can happen. And then, the entity has to ensure that these are zeroed in on and insulated from possible leaks. Unencrypted data, human error, errors resulting from data stored in devices, and most importantly, from Business Associates –all these need to be secured, if the organization has to ensure HIPAA Privacy Security.

For more information click here: http://www.globalcompliancepanel.com/