In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, Workstation Use is the second Physical Safeguard Standard. There is no defined implementation specification for this standard. Implementation of policies and procedures pertaining to this standard are required. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What is Required A covered entity must implement policies and procedures that specify the proper functions to be…
Tag: ARRA
HHS appoints members to HIT Policy and Standards Committee
On Friday, May 8, 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced appointments to the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee and HIT Standards Committee. These federal advisory committees were established by provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that President Obama signed on February 17, 2009. Today, is the first meeting of the HIT Policy Committee, and Friday, May 15, 2009, is the first scheduled meeting of the HIT Standards Committee, both in Washington, DC. According to the press release issued by HHS, “[t]he HIT Policy Committee will make recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology [Dr. David Blumenthal] on a policy…
Facility Access Controls: Maintenance Records-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the fourth implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…
Facility Access Controls: Access Control and Validation Procedures-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the third implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…
Facility Access Controls: Facility Security Plan-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the second implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…
Facility Access Controls: Contingency Operations-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the first implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…
Facility Access Controls: What This HIPAA Security Rule Physical Safeguard Standard Means
This is the first Physical Safeguard Standard of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule. It has four implementation specifications: contingency operations; facility security plan; access control and validation procedures; and maintenance records. Each of these implementation specifications is addressable. Addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA,…
Physical Safeguard Standards of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule
There are four physical safeguard standards: facility access controls, workstation use, workstation security, and device and media controls. Each standard has implementation specifications, which can be required or addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. Physical…
FTC Posts NPRM on Breach Notification Rule for e-Health Information
On April 17, 2009, the Federal Trade Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that requires vendors of personal health records and related entities such as non-profit organizations that offer PHRs, to notify individuals when the security of their individually identifiable health information is breached. The NPRM seeks to conform with rules from HHS that safeguard protected health information, but the FTC proposed rule applies to non HIPAA-covered entities that are not subject to HIPAA privacy and security requirements. Of the many comments the FTC seeks is to identify entities that would fall under this ruling. We believe this rule will strengthen the trust consumers/patients have in sharing information in their…
Evaluation-What This HIPAA Security Rule Administrative Safeguard Standard Means
This is the eighth Administrative Safeguard Standard of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule. Its implementation specification is embodied in the language of the standard itself, and it is required of covered entities. Further, as HIPAA.com has noted earlier, business associates also will be required to comply with the Security Rule standards, effective February 17, 2010, as provided for in the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What is Required Perform a periodic technical and non-technical evaluation, based initially upon the standards implemented under this rule and subsequently, in response to environmental or operational changes affecting the security of…