HIPAA – HITECH Compliance is Real and Here!

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Thousands of US organizations, Covered Entities, Business Associates and Business Associate Subcontractors, must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule. The Security Rule is a key part of HIPAA — federal legislation that was passed into law in August 1996. The overall purpose of the act is to enable better access to health insurance, reduce fraud and abuse, and lower the overall cost of health care in the United States.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, significantly modified and strengthened many aspects of the HIPAA Security Rule, including the penalties that the HHS could impose for violations of the HIPAA rules.

It’s time to get serious! After essentially ignoring the law for five years, Covered Entities and, now, Business Associates need to get serious! As an example, the deadline for Business Associates of Covered Entities to become fully compliant with the Security Rule is February 17, 2010.

Don’t take chances with your HIPAA data backup. Data Mountain can help you develop an effective roadmap to achieve and maintain HIPAA Security Final Rule-compliance and implement cost effective security solutions. Give us a call today at 800-704-3394 or contact us to benefit from our expertise.

Resources:

• Notice of Public Rule Making-Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement Rules Under HITECH (new!)
• HHS-OCR Final Guidance on Risk Analysis (new!)
• 2009 HIPAA Compliance Review Analysis And Summary of Results (new!)
• HIPAA Survival Guide
• How LiveVault Helps CEs and BAs Become HIPAA and HITECH-Compliant
• The Truth About HIPAA, The HITECH Act and Data Backup
• HIPAA Security Data Backup Requirement
• A White Paper for Health Care Professionals – Preparing for the HIPAA Security Rule
• A HIPAA Security Rule Compliance Roadmap
• HIPAA Security Final Rule (The Law)
  
• HIPAA – HITECH FAQs
• Full ARRA Law including The HITECH Act (The Law) (new!)
• HIPAA Civil Money Penalties: Policies and Procedures for Investigations, Imposition of Penalties, and Hearings (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Educational Papers

• Security 101 For Covered Entities
• Security Standards – Administrative Safeguards
• Security Standards – Physical Safeguards
• Security Standards – Technical Safeguards
• Security Standards – Organizational, Policies and Procedures and Documentation Requirements