HIPAA Violations

HIPAA violations are never pretty. One tiny mistake could cause nightmares for your medical facility, including hefty fines and even the possibility of jail time. Since there has been a sharp increase in hacker attacks on hospitals and medical facilities across the country, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) – which handles HIPAA violations and regulations – has started to crack down on infractions.

Even though HIPAA regulations are complex, the OCR takes a zero-tolerance policy for violations. If there is a data breach at your facility, you still have to report it, even if no files were stolen. This is why having a managed services provider that specializes in HIPAA compliance as a service can save your practice or facility time and money. It also never hurts to keep yourself informed.

What Are the Costs of HIPAA Violations?

Today, HIPAA rules are firmer, and violation penalties are more severe. Not only can you get fined, but you could also get up to 10 years of jail time for the most severe infractions.

Obviously, HIPAA violations are not something you want to take lightly. As they become more stringent, it is important to learn not only how to avoid violations, but to know the types of violations.

Sharing HIPAA Data Safely

HIPAA compliance is essential in order to both avoid fines and keep your clients’ information safe. It can seem overwhelmingly complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. There are simple steps you can take to get on the right track.

One of the most vulnerable times for confidential information is in the transfer of that information. Things like lack of security and human error can lead to non-compliance and HIPAA data violations. There are, however, a few things you can do to help minimize this vulnerability.

HIPAA Protection: Are My Computers Safe?

Ensuring your computers maintain HIPAA protection is not easy. If something happens that causes a HIPAA violation, there are significant ramifications.

The company could be fined up to $1.5 million. Clearly, you want to do all you can do to avoid this. To help you out, we have put together a checklist that can give you a great start towards maintaining your HIPAA compliance.

Hipaa Regulations