Introduction
Neutral Partners is your premier information security and data privacy consulting firm, specializing in helping organizations align with regulatory requirements such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Our team of experts is dedicated to providing unparalleled support, ensuring your organization achieves and maintains a robust security and privacy posture in compliance with HIPAA.
What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that establishes rules and regulations to protect patient health information’s privacy and security. The primary objectives of HIPAA are to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI) and to standardize the electronic exchange of health information.
HIPAA comprises several key components, including the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule, and the Breach Notification Rule. The Privacy Rule establishes the standards for protecting PHI, while the Security Rule focuses on safeguarding electronic PHI (ePHI). The Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities and their business associates to notify affected individuals, the Department of Health and Human Services, and sometimes the media of breaches involving unsecured PHI.
Who should consider aligning to HIPAA?
HIPAA applies to covered entities and their business associates. Covered entities include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. Business associates are organizations or individuals who provide services to or perform functions on behalf of covered entities involving PHI access. Organizations that handle PHI must comply with HIPAA to safeguard the privacy and security of sensitive health information and avoid significant fines and penalties.
Benefits of HIPAA Compliance
Enhanced privacy and security
Compliance with HIPAA helps organizations establish a comprehensive approach to protecting PHI, ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive health information.
Improved customer trust
Aligning with HIPAA demonstrates an organization’s commitment to protecting patient privacy, helping build trust with patients and stakeholders.
Competitive advantage
Organizations that handle PHI must comply with HIPAA to avoid significant fines and penalties associated with non-compliance.
How Neutral Partners can help
Managed Compliance
Our end-to-end management of your HIPAA compliance program ensures that your organization always maintains a robust security and privacy posture. We assist you in implementing the necessary policies, processes, and controls, monitor your ongoing compliance, and provide guidance on continuous improvement. Our expert team takes the burden off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your core business operations.
Readiness Assessment
Our Readiness Assessment service identifies and remediates your privacy and security posture gaps, ensuring complete alignment with HIPAA requirements. Our experienced consultants comprehensively analyze your existing practices, compare them to HIPAA’s requirements, and provide actionable recommendations for addressing any identified gaps. This service is essential for organizations seeking to achieve HIPAA compliance or maintain their current compliance status.
Internal Audit
Our Internal Audit service evaluates the effectiveness of your privacy and security controls, ensuring that your organization complies with HIPAA. Our skilled auditors thoroughly examine your organization’s privacy and security policies, procedures, and controls, identifying any areas of non-conformance and providing recommendations for improvement. This service helps you maintain a robust privacy and security posture and prepare for external audits.
Risk Assessment
Our Risk Assessment service identifies and prioritizes risks to your PHI, ensuring that you implement appropriate controls in line with HIPAA requirements. We evaluate your organization’s unique risk landscape, considering threats, vulnerabilities, and potential business impacts. Based on this analysis, we help you develop a risk treatment plan that addresses the most significant risks, ensuring that your privacy and security practices remain effective and resilient.
Policy Development
Our Policy Development service creates tailored policies and procedures that align with HIPAA requirements, ensuring your organization meets the necessary standards. We work closely with your team to develop customized documentation, considering your specific business needs, goals, and operational processes. This service ensures that your organization has a solid foundation for maintaining compliance with HIPAA.
Tabletop Exercise
Our Tabletop Exercise service designs and facilitates custom tabletop exercises to test your organization’s incident response capabilities in the context of HIPAA. These exercises simulate realistic privacy and security incidents, allowing your team to practice their response strategies and identify areas for improvement. Participating in our expert-led tabletop exercises can strengthen your incident response capabilities and ensure preparedness for real-world privacy and security events.
Get Started
Maintaining HIPAA compliance is essential for your organization’s privacy, security, and success—partner with Neutral Partners to benefit from our expertise and dedicated support in navigating the complexities of HIPAA. Contact us today to begin your journey towards a robust privacy and security posture.