Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Do you have a plan in place for your practice? Stat Solutions can help!

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996.  The first phase enabled individuals to move from job to job without endangering their ability to maintain health insurance coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

The second phase directly affects how healthcare providers run their businesses. It sets strict guidelines for the protection of patients’ privacy with regard to their health information. Violations are punishable by fines and sentencing. The Act originally was intended to protect patient information that was transmitted electronically, but the scope has since been broadened to include all patient records regardless of the form.

• Patient charts will not be allowed to be in plain view on desktops;

• Sign-in sheets will have to be kept confidential;

• Nurses calling patients from the waiting room will have to address them using first name only;

• Faxes must be sent under constant surveillance to specific individuals with return fax confirmations;

• Medical records software will be required to be HIPAA compliant;

• Vendor contracts will have to be revised where necessary to meet the HIPAA standard;

• Nearly every aspect of recording, transmitting and maintaining medical records will be subject to rule.

Stat Solutions is prepared to help your practice become HIPAA compliant.

For complete details, please contact us for a consultation.