Electronic medical billing requires access to protected health information to accurately bill and receive payment for medical treatments. While not covered entities, medical billing companies are often contracted as business associates and fall under HIPAA regulations. Title II of HIPAA applies directly to medical billing companies. It dictates the proper uses and disclosures of protected […]
It is common to receive calls and text messages from pharmacies reminding us that it is time to pick up or renew our prescriptions for drugs or other medical items. Have you ever wondered if these prescription notifications are HIPAA-compliant? Just because every pharmacy seems to send them, it doesn’t mean they are aware of […]
Many people rely on mobile devices to access the Internet, and apps are a convenient way to deliver online services. The health industry has also turned to mobile apps to provide health care services on the go. In some industries, developing apps may be relatively straightforward. However, those that deal with PHI need to understand […]
One common misconception is that sending emails to a list of recipients using BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) makes it HIPAA-compliant. For example, a doctor’s office sends a newsletter to its patients using BCC to hide the other recipients. Patients who receive a message sent via BCC cannot see who else received it. Some may think […]
Email and text messaging are among the most common forms of business communication. However, if you are sending ePHI, regular texts and emails are off limits! If you are subject to HIPAA regulations, you will need mutual consent from your patients before sending ePHI insecurely via these methods. This may seem frustrating because text and […]
