The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the healthcare landscape, leading to various adaptations that ensure patients' safety and privacy. One such adaptation is how HIPAA has changed post-COVID-19 pandemic to address current and future public health emergencies. As medical and dental professionals, staying informed about and complying with evolving HIPAA regulations is essential to protect patient privacy and personal health information.
Pre-Pandemic HIPAA Regulations
Starting in 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulates the security and privacy of personal health information (PHI). Pre-pandemic regulations primarily focused on maintaining the confidentiality of PHI among healthcare providers while safeguarding the rights of patients to access and control their information. HIPAA also established standards for electronic healthcare transactions and provided guidelines for securing PHI across various platforms.
Changes in HIPAA Regulations Post-COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated adjustments to these regulations, leading to changes in HIPAA provisions. The most notable alteration has been the inclusion of telemedicine in HIPAA regulations and ensuing policies. Telemedicine allows healthcare providers to deliver services remotely, thereby minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Since the pandemic, more and more practices have continued to use and practice telemedicine, resulting in new compliance requirements under HIPAA.
Post-COVID-19 HIPAA regulations emphasize the secure use of technology in transmitting PHI. They stipulate that healthcare providers must use HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platforms and take adequate measures to shield communication channels during virtual consultations. Additionally, healthcare organizations must evaluate the risks and vulnerabilities of their technology systems, paying particular attention to any loopholes attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access to PHI.
How To Stay Compliant With New Standards
To remain compliant with these new standards, healthcare professionals must implement new policies and procedures. Some recommendations to stay HIPAA-compliant in the post-pandemic world include:
- Adopting secure telemedicine platforms that meet HIPAA requirements to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to protect PHI during virtual consultations.
- Providing regular training to staff members on HIPAA regulations and safe handling of PHI on telemedicine platforms.
- Regularly reviewing and updating privacy and security policies and procedures within your healthcare practice to align with the latest HIPAA regulations.
Staying informed about how HIPAA has changed post-COVID-19 pandemic and adopting the necessary measures to uphold these new compliance standards is paramount for medical and dental professionals. By doing so, we can demonstrate our commitment to protecting patient privacy, safeguarding their personal health information, and ultimately fostering trust with our patients. If you’re looking for new standards training for your team, consult Gamma Compliance Solutions. We offer OSHA and HIPAA infection control training and more to support dental and medical practices in the post-COVID-19 landscape.