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HIPAA Compliance
We help you master the HIPAA Privacy Rule with minimal disruption and expense.HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, can be overwhelming, complex and vague, with the penalties for non-compliance as much as $200,000 for a single violation.
The guiding principle of the HIPAA Privacy Rule is that providers may not use or disclose protected patient health information without authorization. This seemingly simple concept has broad- and unexpected- implications.
We can help you comply.
HIPAA can be mastered without subjecting your practice to disruption and great expense. At Siena Healthcare, we have broad experience in implementing the law.
We know where to look for potential violations and what steps your practice can take to comply. Using inspections and interviews, we examine:
Your office - We identify problems in the physical layout of your facility, such as areas where patients' names, medical records and diagnoses may be disclosed. Then we provide practical, cost-effective solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Rule. We also help you draft the required notices and forms.
Your workflow - Many traditional methods of handling medical records, instructions and billing information violate the Rule. We know what to look for and how to revise your procedures - with the least possible impact on your workflow and patient care.
Your business associates - The Rule governs your relationships with outside vendors that can access your patients' health information. We help you amend your vendor contracts and develop procedures that safeguard patient health information so your practice is in complete compliance.
Your information technology - Insuring the privacy of the health information your computer system stores and transmits is now crucial. Using our broad experience with hardware and software for medical practices, we can ensure your information technology conforms to the Rule.
Conforming your practice to HIPAA can seem impossible. But with Siena Healthcare on your team, the job can be mastered more easily than you think.