HIPAA/HITECH Regulatory Compliance Management

HIPAA compliance is a key component in the protection of personal information in the healthcare system. Critical data of patients exchanged via healthcare organizations, hospitals, physicians, and insurance providers must be secure. Items like lab results, billing, and contact information are protected using admin procedures, technical security systems and actual physical safeguards.

Recently, the HITECH or The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act has been implemented in the healthcare industry that focuses on the establishment of a national health infrastructure and on providing incentives for the adoption of electronic health records (EHR). This act introduces more stringent requirements under the security and privacy rules of HIPAA, increases civil penalties for violation of HIPAA, provides funding for healthcare entities to acquire health information technology, and requires notification to patients of any security breaches. HITECH now places both the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule as front and center issues for healthcare providers. Now, not only are healthcare providers still subject to civil (and potentially criminal) penalties for non-compliance, such non-compliance may actually prevent healthcare providers from receiving financial incentives for EHR adoption and from otherwise obtaining full reimbursement down the road.

It is imperative organizations comply with the privacy and security regulations and standards set forth. Not only to insure personal information is secure, but to streamline processes and provide more efficient healthcare. Mycroft's approach to HIPAA/HITECH compliance is to assess the current situation and any potential risks, design and implement the most effective tools, and also manage the services going forward.

For more information, Contact Us