HIPAA Medical Data Compliance and Privacy

Those who work in an industry that deals with healthcare related data must know about Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). For storing and using medical information, you need to stay HIPAA compliant. Now, first of all, you need to know what HIPAA is and how it affects you.

HIPAA was introduced in the year 1996. The law was created to secure patients’ information, and according to it, the data of patients used for any purpose such as billing must be kept confidential. The medical information provided by the patient in any manner, i.e., oral, paper, or printed or say any health data that can recognize a patient is protected by HIPAA act.

After knowing HIPAA, the next thing you need to know more about is HIPAA compliance and privacy.

Who needs to follow the HIPAA privacy act?

 Everyone who owns a website that makes use of any kind of medical data falls under the act and must be compliant to it. The HIPAA medical data compliance act do not want you to be compliant if you are using small information like the weight of the patients. For example, if you collect weight and height data from visitors to create diet charts, you probably don’t need to be HIPAA compliant. But, if you own a website or APP that keeps the record of medical data of any healthcare provider, you need to follow the compliance act.

What are the consequences if you are not compliant?

Not following a privacy protection law can cost you high. Types of violation including fines and penalties are shown in the following chart:

source: wikipedia.org
Moreover, the violating person can also be sent to jail. The jail punishments range from 1 year to 10 years.

General data protection regulation compliance

According to new privacy laws, you also need to be GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliant. You are required to make a list of data stored by your website on visitors. Some more rules also need to be followed, but if you are compliant, there is nothing to worry about.

How to ensure compliance and privacy?

To secure the data, follow the following steps:

1. Use data security and  strong encryption
2. Only a few employees who really need data must be allowed to access the information.
3. Those who can access the data must use complex passwords.
4. Use two-step authentication and e-signatures
5. To avoid a data breach, make the data accessible to the minimum number of people plus don’t discuss the information in front of anyone even orally.
6. In case a data breach occurs, use HIPAA breach notification rules and inform the individuals about it.

Are you using a HIPAA compliant interpreting system and APP?

Be sure to use HIPAA compliant interpreters or an interpreting service company like Languagers.com that provides interpretation via phone, video and on-site.