The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, aka HIPAA, establishes standards to safeguard protected health information (PHI). HIPAA regulations ensure and enforce the security and privacy of sensitive PHI used by “covered entities” within the healthcare industry. Covered entities include medical facilities, independent providers, pharmacies, labs, insurers, and related personnel.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIPAA requires covered entities to:
- Ensure PHI confidentiality, integrity, and availability for all records they create, receive, maintain, or transmit.
- Protect PHI from security and/or integrity risk.
- Protect PHI from unauthorized use or disclosure.
- Ensure associated workforce compliance.
These regulations may seem daunting, but the penalties for failing to maintain HIPAA compliance are potentially severe. Opt for carefree compliance by partnering with a secure medical data sharing platform. Learn more at teleray.com.
