As a small business, it is easy to fall into the mindset that you don’t need to worry about HIPAA compliance. However, this is not the reality. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandates that all organizations working in healthcare, or with healthcare clients, have an obligation to be HIPAA compliant. The size of an organization has no bearing on HIPAA compliance, all healthcare organizations are held to the same compliance standards. Small business HIPAA compliance should be a top priority as HIPAA fines can easily put a small company out of business.

Actuarial expert Elliot Dinkin states, “Given the recent tendency on the part of HHS toward active enforcement, we strongly urge business associates and covered entities to review their current agreements with an expert in the field to make certain they are in compliance with HIPAA.”

Not only should small businesses be concerned about their HIPAA compliance, they must also be aware of ransomware attacks. A small business is more susceptible to ransomware attacks since hackers know that small businesses are easier to access. Many small businesses see cybersecurity as a luxury that they can’t afford. However, they should consider the costs associated with a data breach. A recent study determined that the average cost for a healthcare data breach is $6.45 million, which doesn’t include the cost of a HIPAA fine. 

How Small Businesses Can Achieve HIPAA Compliance 

Small business HIPAA compliance can be difficult to navigate. Since HIPAA law was meant to apply to organizations of all sizes, the HHS states that organizations must take reasonably appropriate steps to safeguard protected health information (PHI). However, they don’t explicitly state what is reasonable for organizations of different sizes. Determining what is right for your organization and ensuring that PHI is adequately safeguarded, is a difficult undertaking for an organization unfamiliar with the nuances of the law.

Compliancy Group built The Guard with small business HIPAA compliance in mind. There needed to be tools in the market to help small businesses achieve HIPAA compliance. The Guard is a total compliance solution that addresses the full extent of HIPAA regulatory requirements. The cloud-based platform has everything needed built into the platform, available from any device connected to the internet. 

The Guard’s compliance dashboard provides a snapshot of your overall compliance, allowing you to track ongoing efforts. Your small businesses can easily meet your compliance requirements with guided action items.

Compliancy Group also supports clients in the event of a HIPAA audit. Built into the Guard are all of the documents needed to prove an organization’s “good faith effort” in safeguarding patient’s sensitive information.