HIPAA Compliant Medical Transcription

Monday, January 21, 2008

What is HIPAA? It stands for The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. It is the standard for electronic exchange of sensitive patient data and protects patients from disclosure of their medical data without authorization. HIPAA has many regulations for electronic transmission of sensitive patient data that define internal procedures that have to be followed for privacy and security. It has become mandatory for all medical transcription service providers to comply with all HIPAA requirements.

Thus HIPAA compliant medical transcription service providers must,
  • Ensure security of PHI (Patient Health Information)
  • Maintain record of all those who access patient information
  • Implement new technology/processes
  • Provide physical security requiring password protection.
Today most Medical transcription companies get their transcription done from transcriptionists who may be located elsewhere often outside the US. Transmission is done using the Internet. How safe is the Internet? HIPAA requires all online transmission of voicemails and e-mails be done only after encryption. Or one must use a secure FTP site to send documents. Whenever documents are faxed, a disclaimer statement explaining the confidential nature of the information has to be attached. Telephone dictations are however exempted from the need for encryption during transmission of patient data.

Take a look at the full text of HIPAA at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HIPAAGenInfo/Downloads/HIPAALaw.pdf

Outsource Strategies International (OSI) is a US based BPO company that offers professional yet affordable services in medical transcription, medical billing and medical coding.

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posted by Outsource Strategies International @ 7:00 PM