HIPAA Security Rule and eCommerce

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Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Security Best Practices

HIPAA Security Rule and eCommerce

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 required the HHS to develop rules and guidelines for the security and privacy of detailed health data. To achieve this condition, HHS published the HIPAA Security Rule and Privacy Rule. The security Rule, or Ethics for the security of Individually Identifiable Health Information, states nationwide principles for protecting health-related data.

The Security rules declared by HHS state a national set of security principles for shielding specific data related to healthcare that is transferred or held in the electronic arrangement. The Security Rule manages the defenses confined in the Privacy Rule by handling the technical and non-technical precautions that companies called "covered entities" should be addressed to secure individuals' e-PHI (electronically protected health information). In HHS, the Office for Civil Rights has accountability for applying the Security Rules with intended compliance actions and civil money penalties.

In this article, there would be a discussion about the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and how it impacts HIPAA compliance management.

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What Your eCommerce Business Needs to Know about HIPAA

HIPAA Compliant Solution - Medical Development

In the case of eCommerce businesses, customers' overall experience has a significant impact on the success. Information security is one of the major concerns for eCommerce business, and the overall customer satisfaction and trust also rely on it. It has become very challenging for companies to maintain the privacy of customers and keep their data secured. When the customers have to share their Protected Health Information (PHI), it becomes even more complex. This can contain data such as health insurance data, medical records, or customers billing details. Ecommerce businesses have to ensure that all of the customers' needs are fully secure as per the HIPAA Security Rule. The same thing goes for the HIPAA security measures.

As we know that healthcare is an emerging industry with a considerable eCommerce revolution happening, we planned our next-generation podium to be prepared.

For growing businesses, there are a lot of things to consider. Security of the platforms is something that should never be neglected at any cost. Your eCommerce platform should contain complete enterprise safety, introducing valued tools such as permission controls and audit trails. Every device has been formed to offer you the oversight, intelligence, and protections required to effectively scale your developing business without making any compromise on integrity.

IS YOUR BUSINESS PROTECTED?

HIPPA Security Rules

Before HIPAA, there was no set of security principles or general needs for protecting health data in the health care business. It was the time when innovative technologies were developing, and health care started to shift from paper processes and rely on electronic information systems to answer eligibility questions, pay claims, offer health data, and conduct many other clinical and administrative functions.

Nowadays, many healthcare providers use clinical systems such as electronic health records, electronic physician order entry systems, e-pharmacy, radiology, and research laboratory applications. Health care plans are offering admission to care and claims management and member self-service systems. It also makes the medical staff more productive and efficient (i.e., doctors can analyze patient information and test outcomes anywhere). The higher adoption of such new technologies upsurges the likelihood of security risks.

The primary purpose of the Security Rule is to guard the individuals' health data privacy while letting covered entities accept technologies to expand the efficiency and quality of their patient care. It is known that the healthcare industry is diverse. The Security Rule is created to be more scalable and flexible. An enclosed entity can apply procedures, policies, and skills suitable for the organizational structure, entity's specific size, and customers' e-PHI HIPAA security risks.

Who is Covered Under the Security Rule?

The Security Rule applies to all health care clearinghouses, health plans, and any healthcare company that conveys health data in computerized form linking with a transaction for which the HHS Secretary has accepted security principles under HIPAA and their business connections.

What Data is Secured?

The Electronic Protected Health Information is secured under the HIPAA Security Rule. The HIPAA Security Rule guards the health data, known as protected health information (PHI), clarified in the Security Rule. This rule also protects a subset of data protected by the Privacy Rule: the exclusively recognizable health data a covered entity receives, creates, preserves, or communicates in computerized form. Under Security Rule, this information is also known as "electronically protected health information."

Other General Security Rules

The Security Rule needs covered entities to preserve appropriate and reasonable organizational, physical, and technical protections for shielding e-PHI. Covered entities should:

  • Ensure the privacy, availability, and integrity of e-PHI they receive, create, conveyor maintain
  • Defend against sensibly anticipated, impermissible disclosures or uses
  • Guard and recognize against rationally anticipated intimidations to the integrity or security of the data
  • Ensure obedience by their staff

In HIPAA, Security Rule describes "confidentiality" as e-PHI is not revealed or available to unofficial users. The confidentiality needs under Security Rule support the Privacy Rule's exclusions against inappropriate disclosures and uses of protected healthcare information. This rule also endorses the two extra purposes of maintaining the availability and integrity of e-PHI. Under HIPAA Security Rule, "integrity" means that e-PHI is not demolished or changed unofficially. "Availability" means that e-PHI is functioning and accessible on request by an official user.

Data Breach Risk Prevention, Data Encryption, and More.

How Does a Website Become HIPAA Compliant?

You must consider all aspects of HIPAA before your eCommerce business website can be regarded as compliant. Your progress team will be managing the Physical and Technical shielding of the Security Rule more frequently. Such security should be in place to control and protect access to the PHI.

Technical security includes Verification, Access Control, and Communication Security. These features can be managed through protected access control with strong passwords and unique usernames, a safe web server with SSL eCommerce, and encoded information, whether it is being stored or transmitted. These methods will help safeguard that no unlicensed user or device can have access to your critical data.

Physical safeguards are HIPAA-necessary precautions that refer to how the online data is used and comprises details such as Workstation Security and Device and Use and Media Controls. Workstation Use and Security includes functions and policies accomplished on a device and physical protections for a workplace to guarantee that only approved users can access it. For Media and Device Controls, it is significant to have protected means of the positioning of data that is no more required. PHI Physical safeguards are just as important as technical one.

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How Can Clarity Help with HIPAA Compliance?

It is concluded that the Security Rule for the protection of Individually Identifiable Health Information states nationwide principles for the protection of health-related data. It has become very challenging for businesses to maintain the privacy of customers and keep their data secured. Health care plans are offering admission to care and claims management and member self-service systems. The Electronic Protected Health Information is secured under the HIPAA Security Rule. The confidentiality needs under Security Rule support the Privacy Rule's exclusions against inappropriate disclosures and uses of protected healthcare information. The HIPAA Security and privacy rules will help ensure that no unauthorized user or device can access your critical data and your online information is protected.

Clarity has developed some of the best HIPAA-Compliant Websites. Any health organization can face issues with HIPAA responsibilities when they start their digital journey. These problems can be overcome by working with a professional HIPAA development team. Clarity's HIPAA Compliance Services include:

  • HIPAA Complaint Website
  • HIPAA Compliant eCommerce integration
  • HIPAA Security and Privacy Rules
  • HIPAA Compliance Requirements
  • HIPAA Technical Safeguards
  • HIPAA Compliance Certification
  • HIPAA Password Requirements
  • HIPAA Compliant App Development