So, just a few months ago, I let you all know that HIPAA was back in the news with new court rulings, enforcement activities and how future HIPAA Audits would be occurring proactively (instead of reacting to breaches and complaints). Since then we have taken a long journey together to go over some of the items that need to be in place and happen on a daily basis, so that your pharmacy is HIPAA ready. We also looked at what…
We have been talking HIPAA Readiness for a little over a month now and I hope that it is helping you to realize you can’t afford to ignore HIPAA Compliance, or put your program on a shelf. Our final topic before we sum it all up is another HIPAA basic, policies and procedures. Mind your Ps and Qs, or in this case, your P and Ps. In the old days, many people had formal living rooms or parlors that were…
We have taken a long journey in this HIPAA Readiness series, so let’s not forget the basics. Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Notice of Privacy Practices Communication is the key to success. Or so read a poster on the wall in my high school English class. Communication is also the key to HIPAA compliance. You need to give every patient a Notice of Privacy the first time you provide any health service. The Notice of Privacy Practices must…
Wow! We are covering a lot of topics in this HIPAA Readiness Series! If you haven’t had a chance and want to, visit the Blog archives to catch up on the topics we have gone over so far. This next topic is an important one. Let’s Share! (Business Associate Agreements) We’ve all been taught that sharing is good. In 21st century healthcare, sharing data is essential. But, it’s also a bit worrisome. Criminals can do a lot of harm with…
Have you been keeping up with our HIPAA Readiness Series? We have been exploring why HIPAA is back in the news, what to do if you experience a HIPAA breach, and the fact that you, as a pharmacy owner, are responsible for your employees actions if they violate HIPAA. Another vital aspect of HIPAA readiness concerns a Contingency or Disaster Recovery Plan. Do you know that a good Disaster Recovery Plan is essential to your pharmacy business? Let’s continue exploring…