From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification, securing of protected health information, and electronic health record (EHR) standards development and adoption. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will required compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), or statute, as appropriate. Exploring HIPAA and…
Tag: compliance
Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 5
From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will require compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register and citation to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health Insurance…
Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 4
From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will require compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register and citation to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health…
Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 3
From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will require compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register and citation to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health…
Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 2
From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will require compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register and citation to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health…
Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 1
From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will require compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register and citation to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health…
Is Certification a Surrogate for HIPAA Privacy and Security Training?
Several visitors to HIPAA.com have asked if ‘certification’ can substitute for compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security training standards and new Privacy requirements under the HITECH Act. Generally, certification is a snapshot in a moment of time. The Merrim-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.) defines certification as the act or state of “attest[ing] as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard.” Certification generally is done by an external source. Training is an ongoing internal process for safeguarding protected health information from unauthorized use or disclosure as business policies and procedures evolve and regulatory standards are initiated or modified. Further, training requires that workforce members, including management, demonstrate…
FTC Delays “Red Flags” Rule for Third Time
The Federal Trade Commission announced a third delay, from August 1, 2009, to November 1, 2009, for compliance with the identity theft prevention red flags rule. The delay is for another three months. Compliance originally was scheduled for November 1, 2008, then delayed the first time until May 1, 2009. Entities affected are creditors and financial institutions. Healthcare providers that extend delayed payment plans to patients are deemed “creditors” under the red flags rule. This delay was to give affected entities more time to develop and implement written identity theft prevention policies and procedures for compliance with the rule, which is based on enabling regulations of provisions in the Fair and Accurate…
Accountability Key Privacy/Security Principle of Meaningful Use 2011 Objectives
On December 15, 2008, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its 11 page report: Nationwide Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information. The eight principles in this report underpin the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Privacy and Security Rule standards, provide a foundation of the Privacy provisions of the HITECH Act in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009, and are a key objective of proposed 2011 Objective recommendations for Meaningful Use published by HHS’ Health IT Policy Committee on June 16, 2009….
Red Flags Rules Compliance Countdown: Today
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) red flags rules for financial institutions and creditors to fight identity theft require compliance by most healthcare providers today, Friday, May 1, 2009. See this post for more information on how to prepare for today’s deadline.