Showing posts with label HIPAA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HIPAA. Show all posts

Friday, June 12, 2015

Complying with HIPPA – A List of Common Dos and Don’ts

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996, this set a national standard in protecting health information, defined as individually identifiable health information in any form including oral, written and electronic. By now you are likely aware of how this affects dentists practicing in the United States. With an increased focus on compliance, every dentist should review his or her procedures to ensure they are covered in every aspect of their business.

To help you avoid the hefty maximum penalty of $1.5 million per incident, we gathered a list of common DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to complying with HIPAA. A lot on these may seem like common sense but it’s a great reminder of how easy it could be to violate HIPAA.

DO

  • Train all staff on HIPAA compliance and assign different security access levels to individual staff members.
  • Ensure patient files are protected so that unauthorized persons do not have access to files.
  • Store information on secure encrypted devices. 
  • Always log off your computers when you leave your desk.
  • Shred any patient records if you need to dispose of them.
  • Update HIPAA documents annually or otherwise necessitated by a change in practice circumstances. 
  • Promptly provide medical records should patients request them.
  • Ensure all forms have the proper signatures on them. 
  • Only provide the minimum level of necessary information to those with access to patient data.
  • Use a cover sheet when faxing health records.
  • Notify the Health & Human Services department should a breach occur.

DON’T

  • Text patient information – while we hope our phones will never get lost or stolen, it happens. 
  • Email private information unless it is a secure connection.
  • Snoop records when it is not necessary or requested – this includes looking into you and your family’s records!
  • Release information to unauthorized persons.
  • Release information to the wrong patient.
  • Discuss health information of patients in public areas.
  • Leave patient information over an answering machine.
  • Release information of a minor without permission of that parental/guardian.

This is not a definitive list, always consult a HIPAA compliance attorney with any questions you might have.

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