One of the most important pieces of guidance that HHS has put out in regards to HIPAA compliance is The Seven Fundamental Elements of an Effective Compliance Program.
Since this guidance was first released, OCR enforcement for HIPAA violations has increased significantly. Over the course of a year, there was a four-fold increase in total fines levied (from $6.2 million to $23.5 million).
The seven elements of HIPAA compliance represent the minimum necessary requirements that HIPAA covered entities such as ODs, MDs, and all healthcare providers must have in place to address HIPAA privacy and security standards.
You might be wondering how to build a compliance program or how to develop a compliance framework. The 7 Elements of a Compliance Program Are as Follows:
- Implementing written policies, procedures, and standards of conduct.
- Designating a compliance officer and compliance committee.
- Conducting effective training and education.
- Developing effective lines of communication.
- Conducting internal monitoring and auditing.
- Enforcing standards through well-publicized disciplinary guidelines.
- Responding promptly to detected offenses and undertaking corrective action.
Each of the Seven Elements requires robust, organization-wide enforcement and documentation. Many HIPAA standards require annual review, as well.
HIPAA compliance programs are most successful when they’re integrated into the management of your practice–creating an effective corporate compliance program within your practice is your best bet to avoid HIPAA breaches and fines!
About Compliancy Group
Compliancy Group gives healthcare professionals confidence in their HIPAA compliance program with The Guard™. The Guard is a web-based HIPAA compliance solution, built by former auditors to help you both simplify compliance and create a reliable HIPAA compliance program.
Compliancy Group’s team of Compliance Coaches™ field questions and guide users through the implementation process, taking the stress out of managing compliance, HIPAA release forms, and more. The Guard is built to address the full extent of HIPAA regulation, including Business Associate management and Business Associate Agreements.
With The Guard, healthcare professionals can focus on running their practice while keeping their patients’ data protected and secure.
Find out more about how Compliancy Group and the HIPAA Seal of Compliance can help simplify your HIPAA compliance today!
