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A
difficult economic climate may make it harder for health care
providers to comply with provisions of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in time for
deadlines next year, according to a report by the consulting
company Frost & Sullivan Inc independent report,
"Effects of HIPAA in the U.S. Healthcare Markets"
studied three health care market sectors affected by HIPAA:
hospitals, managed care organizations and physician practice
groups. The study found that, despite an April 2004 deadline
for HIPAA compliance on patient privacy, IT spending remains a
low priority for hospitals and health care providers
struggling for survival because of the economy.
"Privacy issues are
among the least understood areas of HIPAA. They generate the
most questions and loopholes, and are the area of largest
liability,".
With the new HIPAA
regulations Privacy is the main issue.
All electronic data
transmitted on the internet should be encrypted . This is
easily achieved by having a VPN. Which is already built in
current PC, and Firewalls. Cheap software VPN are also
on the market . The government does not specify a vendor for
encryptions. Why not choose the cheapest. The Government of
North Carolina thinks they need $165 million to be
compliant with HIPAA. I think this program should only cost
them $10 million.
We think that majority of
medical offices are already compliant with HIPAA.
For just $ 50.00 we will
email you a simple one page solution to HIPAA. Which you can
easily understand. For $ 500 consultation fee we will
implement it for you. Means set up all the patient consent
forms for your practice. The required display materials for
patients. The required teaching for practice personnel.
HIPAA is being exploited
just like Y2K.
Federal law requires most
health plans, clearing houses, and those providers that
conduct certain transactions electronically to be compliant
with the HIPAA transactions standards by Oct. 16, 2002, unless
they file on or before Oct. 15 for a one-year extension. Those
who are not compliant and have not filed for the extension may
be subject to statutory penalties. (The law gives certain
small health plans until Oct. 16, 2003 to comply).
Enforcement activities will
focus on obtaining voluntary compliance through technical
assistance. The process will be primarily complaint driven and
will consist of progressive steps that will provide
opportunities to demonstrate compliance or submit a corrective
action plan.
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