From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification, securing of protected health information, and electronic health record (EHR) standards development and adoption. These definitions are key to understanding the referenced HIPAA and HITECH Act enabling regulations that are effective now and that will require compliance by covered entities and business associates now or in the months ahead, as indicated in HIPAA.com’s timeline. Each posting will contain three definitions, with a date reference to the Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), or statute, as appropriate. Exploring HIPAA and…
Tag: hardware
Word of the Day: Interoperability
Interoperability: The ability to exchange and use information (usually in a large heterogeneous network made up of several local area networks). Interoperable systems reflect the ability of software and hardware on multiple machines from multiple vendors to communicate.
Physical Safeguard Standard, Device and Media Controls: Disposal Implementation Specification-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, Device and Medial Controls is the fourth and last Physical Safeguard Standard. Disposal is the first of four implementation specifications, and it is required. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What to Do A covered entity must implement policies and procedures to address the final disposition of electronic protected health information and…
Device and Media Controls: What This HIPAA Security Rule Physical Safeguard Standard Means
This is the fourth and last Physical Safeguard Standard of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule. It has four implementation specifications: disposal, media re-use, accountability, and data backup and storage. The first two are required; the last two are addressable. Addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act…
Facility Access Controls: Maintenance Records-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the fourth implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…
Facility Access Controls: What This HIPAA Security Rule Physical Safeguard Standard Means
This is the first Physical Safeguard Standard of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule. It has four implementation specifications: contingency operations; facility security plan; access control and validation procedures; and maintenance records. Each of these implementation specifications is addressable. Addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA,…
Physical Safeguard Standards of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule
There are four physical safeguard standards: facility access controls, workstation use, workstation security, and device and media controls. Each standard has implementation specifications, which can be required or addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. Physical…