How to Meet HIPAA Requirements

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was put into place in 1996 by congress. It protects the health coverage of workers and their families if they become unemployed or make a job change. It also sets national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for health-care providers, health insurance plans and employers. The HIPAA does have civil and criminal penalties for violators, so it is essential to ensure that you are in compliance and meet the requirements of the HIPAA.

Instructions

Meeting HIPAA Compliances

• 1

  Understand deadlines and comply. There is a model compliance extension plan for transaction deadlines and submission of electronic claims. Criminal fines and penalties may apply if not in compliance.

• 2

  Know your compliance requirements. Depending on the size of your practice or the information that your company transacts may depend on your specific requirements. It is possible that a physician's practice may be exempt from some standards.

• 3

  Prioritize your compliance requirements. Make sure that you understand the Federal and State targets. Also, educate your employees and patients.

• 4

  Use consultants. The AMA Consulting Link network is a national network of attorneys and consultants which includes health care lawyers and consultants with HIPAA knowledge.

• 5

  Visit website resources for current and up to date information. There are several websites you can visit for the latest details regarding HIPAA.