This means that an IT company, a company that provides legal software, a copier repair company, or a paper storage warehouse, just to mention a few, now will have to comply with HIPAA even though they don’t directly have health care clients. Who is a HIPAA Business Associate is very important because now the companies that service them are also considered Business Associates and have to comply with HIPAA.

Subcontractors now include data centers, cloud services, and online backup companies. The rule went further to require that a Business Associate must be responsible for the HIPAA compliance of any subcontractor it uses. The HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule requires a HIPAA Business Associate to comply with HIPAA as if it was a Covered Entity, including HIPAA policies and procedures, a Risk Analysis, workforce training, and the security of any patient data it stores. These include doctors, dentists, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, labs, and insurance companies.Ī “Business Associate” is a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or provides services to, a Covered Entity.Ī HIPAA Business Associate is required to sign an agreement limiting the use of the health information it uses. HIPAA Covered Entities are health care providers and payers that process certain transactions electronically.

You no longer have to be a healthcare company to be responsible for the protection of Protected Health Information (PHI.) With health care organizations now more responsible than ever for the compliance of their vendors, lawyers and accountants have to step up and become compliant with HIPAA. Just like security after 9/11, HIPAA is changing the business landscape forever. It is even more important today with the HIPAA Business Associate and subcontractor changes in the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule that will be enforced after September 23, 2013. Twitter: about a lawyer or an accountant being a HIPAA Business Associate is directly related to several sections of the HIPAA Security Ruleframework to protect electronic health information. HIPAA Business Associate Role is Based on Services

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