Tech products and HIPAA: A foggy relationshipĮach entity that has access to PHI needs to make sure the appropriate technical, physical, and administrative safeguards are in place. Moreover, it is mandated to inform the covered entities in the case of any potential or actual data breaches. Just like the covered entity, the business associate needs to adhere to HIPAA regulations to protect PHI.
This contract is known as a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). When a covered entity allows a business associate to support its healthcare activities, the business associate needs to sign a contractual agreement with the covered entity. Healthcare clearinghouses process healthcare transactions according to required standardsĪ business associate is an organization that has access to PHI as contracted by a covered entity.Įxamples of healthcare business associates are IT providers, email hosting services, and - you guessed right - form builders. Health plans: Any individual or group plan that offers or pays for healthcare services, such as health insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, Medicaid, and MedicareĬlearinghouses: organizations that act as the middleman between healthcare providers and insurance payers. Healthcare providers: Such as doctors, nursing homes, hospitals, or psychologists Subgroups that fall under the umbrella of covered entities include: What is a covered entity?Ī covered entity is any organization that collects, creates, or transmits PHI electronically (also known as “ePHI”). Two groups must comply with HIPAA regulations: covered entities (CEs) and business associates. There is a lot to take into account, but you shouldn’t be worrying yourself sick over how to do it right.īefore we get into the problem of HIPAA-compliant digital forms, let’s do a quick recap of who is affected by it, and why. Whether it’s a covered entity that generates PHI, or a business associate who needs to access it, HIPAA regulations matter. In healthcare it is vital to understand what the rules are, how do they apply to you, and how to comply.
First and foremost, it has to be handled according to HIPAA compliance guidelines. PHI needs to be sent, received, and stored safely and securely. If you work in healthcare and handle protected health information (PHI), you know that there is no way around it.
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