With the rapid advancement of technology, the healthcare industry is constantly evolving. Telemedicine is one such advancement that has revolutionized the way we receive medical care. Telemedicine allows patients to receive care from the comfort of their own homes, without having to visit a doctor’s office or hospital. However, with the rise of telemedicine, especially since the start of COVID-19 comes the need for HIPAA compliant telemedicine software.
Although the PHE or Public Health Emergency caused HHS to temporarily suspended enforcement efforts surrounding the use of non-compliant telemedicine software, the Biden Administration announced that the PHE will be lifted on May 11, 2023 after being in effect from January 2020. Essentially, healthcare providers using telemedicine platforms must ensure that the service they use is HIPAA compliant before enforcement resumes. HIPAA compliance really is essential for any telemedicine platform as it ensures the privacy and security of patient information.
HIPAA and Telemedicine: Why Should You Be Compliant?
HIPAA compliance is one of the most critical factors when it comes to choosing a telemedicine software. Using HIPAA compliant telemedicine software is essential to ensuring that patient’s medical and health information is kept secure and confidential during a virtual appointment.
HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.
Telemedicine software that is HIPAA compliant is designed to meet the strict requirements of HIPAA regulations to protect patient privacy and maintain that confidentiality.
HIPAA Guidelines on Telemedicine
While HIPAA guidelines were loosely followed during the public health emergency, that is soon to change. To prepare for the return to enforcement surrounding HIPAA and telemedicine, it is important to be aware of what to look for from a compliant platform.
HIPAA compliant telemedicine software typically includes:
- Secure video conferencing and messaging
- File sharing capabilities that comply with HIPAA requirements for encryption and data security
- Restrictions on who can access a session
- Business associate agreements
With these features, patient data is encrypted both during transmission and storage, and access to the data is strictly controlled through secure user authentication and authorization protocols.
In addition to the technical safeguards required by HIPAA, HIPAA compliant software providers must sign business associate agreements (BAAs) with their healthcare clients. In many cases, software providers meet the technical aspect of HIPAA, but don’t sign BAAs. Telemedicine software providers that don’t sign BAAs are not HIPAA compliant, and after May 2023, should not be used for telemedicine sessions.
It is critical that practices choose a telemedicine software that follows HIPAA guidelines to avoid potential legal and financial consequences of violating HIPAA regulations, while also providing the highest levels of privacy and security for patients.
HIPAA Compliant Telemedicine Software: Are These Popular Tools Compliant?
Before choosing a platform to employ, a HIPAA business associate (BA) or covered entity (CE) must take into account the platform’s HIPAA compliance. So which telemedicine tools comply with HIPAA?
Compliant:
- Zoom
- GoToMeeting
- Microsoft Teams
- Skype for Business
Not Compliant:
- Skype
- FaceTime
For more information on HIPAA compliant telemedicine tools, click here.
Keeping Up With HIPAA Regulations
HIPAA Regulations are put in place to protect the privacy of patients’ medical information and to ensure the safe handling of said information. While HIPAA changes might be perplexing, for your compliance program to remain current, Compliancy Group keeps track of changes to the HIPAA requirements. The HIPAA compliance software from Compliancy Group takes care of all legal requirements and lays the groundwork for developing a culture of compliance within your company.
First, you get access to “The Guard,” the top healthcare compliance software solution in the market. The Guard serves as your organization’s compliance nerve center, assisting you with the necessary audits, developing corrective action plans, and developing policies and procedures that are effective for your business.
The Guard includes the tracking and attestation required to demonstrate that annual mandatory employee training actually took place. It also keeps track of all business associate agreements and offers anonymous breach reporting for employees, as required by law. We are available to assist you should you ever experience a data breach or audit. We have never failed an audit on behalf of our clients!
