iRCM is an industry leader with innovative technology and an expert team. We are a complete Revenue Cycle Management solution that streamlines reimbursements and delivers remarkable results.
iRCM is an industry leader with innovative technology and an expert team. We are a complete Revenue Cycle Management solution that streamlines reimbursements and delivers remarkable results.
“Securing your privacy, streamlining your billing: The HIPAA effect”
The healthcare industry consists of arrays of steps to provide the best care to patients. Within these steps, healthcare providers face numerous challenges to safeguard the confidentiality and privacy of patient medical information. So in 1996, US Congress brought up an act named as HIPAA.
HIPAA has far-reaching implications for healthcare providers; it also significantly impacts the medical billing process. The medical billing process which basically revolves around submitting and following up on insurance claims for reimbursement of healthcare services provided to patients.
In this blog, we will discuss about how HIPPA influences the process of medical billing, we will have a look at the three most important HIPPA laws. We will also examine some HIPAA violations and why you should choose a HIPAA-compliant medical billing company.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law enacted in 1996 in the United States. Its main purpose is to protect the privacy and security of patient health information, including personal, medical, and financial information.
HIPAA provides standards that healthcare providers, health plans, and other covered entities must follow to safeguard the confidentiality of patient information. The law also grants patients certain rights, such as access to medical records.
To maintain compliance with HIPPA guidelines, Medical billing companies conduct risk analysis and draw a conclusion about the best possible ways they can protect the PHI and ePHI. HIPAA also requires healthcare providers to obtain patient consent before disclosing their information for billing purposes.
HIPAA sets specific requirements for the electronic transmission of healthcare claims to ensure the confidentiality and security of patient information. The HIPAA Transactions and Code Sets rule require healthcare providers and insurance companies to use standardized formats for electronic healthcare transactions, including electronic claims. Here are some of the key requirements for electronic claims under HIPAA:
Title II of HIPAA Laws has set the standards for establishing security and privacy requirements for patient health information. It states that patient health information must be kept safe and secure, and only those who need to access it should be able to do so.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is responsible for developing and disseminating implementation rules for HIPAA laws. It is mandatory for all entities impacted by HIPAA to adhere to these standards within two years of their adoption.
The Privacy Rule establishes and sets national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information, also known as protected health information (PHI). The rule sets requirements for how PHI can be used and disclosed.
This includes obtaining patient authorization for uses not related to treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. The Privacy Rule also grants patients certain rights, such as the right to access their medical records and the right to request corrections for information.
The Security Rule sets standards for protecting electronic PHI (ePHI). Healthcare providers and other covered entities must implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI.
The Security Rule also requires covered entities to conduct regular risk assessments, implement security policies and procedures, and train their workforce on security awareness by analyzing the associated security risks.
The Breach Notification Rule requires healthcare providers and other covered entities to notify individuals, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the media (in some cases) in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI.
The notification must be provided without unreasonable delay, and the covered entity must also take steps to mitigate the harm caused by the breach. It should be also noted that this breach should be reported in 60 days of its discovery.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enforces HIPAA regulations. Specifically, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within HHS enforces the HIPAA rules. The OCR investigates complaints of HIPAA violations filed by individuals & covered entities.
The OCR also conducts audits of covered entities to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations. If a covered entity is found to be in violation of HIPAA, the OCR can impose civil monetary penalties or take legal action to address the violation.
A HIPAA violation occurs when a healthcare provider, health plan, or other covered entity fails to comply with the HIPAA Privacy, Security, or Breach Notification Rule. Now let’s examine some of the most common HIPPA Law violations.
HIPAA requires covered entities to obtain written authorization from patients before disclosing their PHI, except for certain permitted purposes such as treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. A covered entity disclosing PHI without patient authorization could be considered a HIPAA violation.
The HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities to implement technical, physical, and administrative safeguards to protect ePHI from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. If a covered entity fails to implement these safeguards and ePHI is compromised, it could result in a HIPAA violation.
The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify affected individuals, the Department of Health and Human Services, and in some cases, the media, in case of a breach of unsecured PHI. A covered entity failing to report a breach could violate HIPAA law.
HIPAA gives patients the right to access their medical records and request copies of their PHI. A covered entity is responsible for providing the patient with medical records. Failing to provide patients with access to their medical records could result in a HIPAA law violation.
A HIPAA-compliant medical billing company can help healthcare providers protect their patients’ ePHI and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations. A good medical billing service should comprehensively understand the latest HIPAA laws and ensures you to remain complaint with HIPAA Regulations.
They should bring in the utilization of secure servers to store ePHI, provide regular data backups, and utilize encryption technologies for the transmission of electronic records. By choosing a HIPAA-compliant medical billing company, you can ensure your patient’s PHI is safe and secure.
Overall, healthcare providers need to understand how HIPAA influences the medical billing process and take steps to ensure compliance. The HIPAA rules are in place to protect the privacy of individuals, and healthcare providers must adhere to them or face serious consequences.
By taking the necessary steps to comply with HIPAA regulations, healthcare providers can ensure their patients’ PHI remains safe and secure and avoid costly violations. Choosing a HIPAA-compliant medical billing company can be beneficial for health care providers as it helps keep their practice compliant.
Furthermore, it also ensures patient information is protected. With the right medical billing partner in place, healthcare providers life can be easy as they can focus on providing quality care without worrying about potential HIPAA violations or the risk of data breaches.
HIPAA plays a crucial role in the medical billing process, and healthcare providers must take steps to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations.
By following these guidelines, health care providers will be able to provide quality care and avoid costly penalties associated with HIPAA non-compliance.
A HIPAA-compliant medical billing company can provide peace of mind that patient data is secure and protected from potential HIPAA violations.
So if you are looking for a HIPAA Compliant medical billing company near you, don’t look any further; iRCM is the right choice.
We are certified by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) as CPB and CPC, and are fully compliant with all HIPAA and CMS regulations.
iRCM is an industry leader with innovative technology and an expert team. We are a complete Revenue Cycle Management solution that streamlines reimbursements and delivers remarkable results.