Technical Safeguards Required by HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates specific technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Organizations must implement these safeguards to comply with HIPAA regulations effectively.
- Access Control: Implement unique user IDs and emergency access procedures to ensure that only authorized personnel can access ePHI.
- Audit Controls: Implement hardware and software mechanisms to record and examine access and activity in systems that contain ePHI.
- Integrity Controls: Establish measures to protect ePHI from improper alteration or destruction. This includes verifying that ePHI is not altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner.
- Person Authentication: Implement procedures to verify that a person or entity seeking access to ePHI is who they claim to be, utilizing strong passwords, biometric data, or other authentication methods.
- Transmission Security: Safeguard ePHI when in transit over an electronic network. This includes encrypting ePHI during transmission to prevent unauthorized access.
Compliance with these technical safeguards is crucial for any healthcare organization or business associate handling ePHI to minimize risks and protect sensitive information from cybersecurity threats.