Outsourcing HIPPA Standards Compliance In Healthcare
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), was established by Congress to address a variety of issues regarding patient information and right to privacy. HIPPA required the U.S. department of Health and Human Services to adopt and regulate standards in regards to the privacy, electronic exchange, and security of patient health information. Healthcare facilities are charged with the implementation and maintenance of these standards in all aspects of patient health information. Consequences of failing to comply with HIPPA standards can range from citations, law suits, and in egregious instances, revocation of licenses to practice health care.
While healthcare facilities and medical offices are inundated with a multitude of rules and regulations surrounding patient care, insurance and medical billing, and OSHA laws, HIPPA standards can become easily overlooked. HIPPA’s laws have specific regulations for health care facilities and medical personnel, and contracting with professional experts can greatly reduce the chances of unforeseen pitfalls.
HIPPA includes a set of rules specifically addressing the handling of patient information in the medical field. The Privacy, Security, and Enforcement rules each outline processes for specific areas pertaining to medical information and how it is shared. Understanding the details in entirety can be a monumental task.
Managing HIPPA standards on top of the other state and federal industry regulations can place a heavy burden on health care facilities. It is assumed that larger companies like hospitals and state healthcare systems already have employees in place whose primary role is monitoring HIPPA compliance. But for smaller private offices, many providers find it difficult to retain a full-time compliance manager.
Outsourcing of many aspects of medical facility management is already common practice in the health care field. Patient billing and insurance coding along with medical software support are among the various popular services that health care providers contract out on a regular basis. Utilizing an innovative medical consulting firm for HIPPA compliance can be advantageous for any size medical facility, and the benefits can far outweigh the costs.
Professional medical consulting companies who offer HIPPA compliance maintenance services can save the healthcare provider time and money by making sure staff are well trained and following HIPPA standards. Compliance consultants can develop a strong plan which is key to ensuring regulations are followed without fail. In the event a medical facility is audited for HIPPA compliance, the compliance consultant can provide assistance every step of the way.
HIPPA citations are avoidable. Proper standards planning and education are crucial in maintaining a successful workplace in any health care facility. Outsourcing HIPPA standards maintenance, along with other administrative duties, can greatly reduce compliance burdens of any medical care provider.
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