Who Is Responsible for Training Employees in HIPAA?

HIPAA training is vital for any organization dealing with Protected Health Information (PHI). The responsible parties for training vary, but senior management must always be aware of the ramifications of non-compliance.

Identification

• The Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act requires health plans and health care administrators to comply with all HIPAA standards. This includes insuring that all employees understand and abide by HIPAA rules.

Significance

• Without HIPAA training, organizations are left to interpret HIPAA laws on their own. This leads to widespread confusion over the intent of HIPAA and defeats the overall spirit of the law.

Benefits

• Managers in healthcare facilities have to be held accountable for ensuring the proper training of HIPAA rules. When managers properly execute training, organizations avoid hefty fines for violating HIPAA.

Considerations

• The responsibility of HIPAA training may be delegated to the HR department. HR reps who are certified to train on HIPAA may also receive ongoing credit as HR professionals.

Effects

• When an organization has been correctly trained on the significance of HIPAA, an organization of trainers is created for every new employee who enters the organization.