July 16, 2021
In recent months, we’ve talked a little about email security and how strongly it can impact HIPAA compliance. Following HIPAA guidelines is important for many reasons, and today we’re going to share what some of those reasons are, along with the penalties you can expect to be hit with if you fail to meet HIPAA requirements.
COVID Ransomware and HIPAA Crackdowns
It should go without saying, but following HIPAA regulations is not optional. While this is nothing new, what makes compliance even more dire is the constant rise of COVID-related ransomware attacks on hospitals and the healthcare industry abroad. What’s more, last year brought huge crackdowns on healthcare providers who failed to abide by the laws outlined in HIPAA. Our aim is to not only present you with the information required to follow the rules, but also advise you on how best to make the necessary changes within your organization.
An Increase in HIPAA Fines
The latest penalty structure was made official on Nov. 5, 2019, dramatically increasing the dollar amount organizations will be fined should they not strictly adhere to all HIPAA guidelines. These new penalties are even retroactive as far back as 2009. In other words, any violations that took place on or after Feb. 18, 2009, are now subject to the new penalty structure. We briefly touched on the types of HIPAA infractions, but didn’t go much into the dollar details. Here is a quick breakdown of the penalty amounts outlined in HIPAA Journal:
HIPAA and Your Image
Dollar penalties aside, HIPAA compliance is about more than just avoiding government fines. The rules put in place exist for a reason. Data breaches are costly — to your bottom line, to your customers’ lives and to your reputation. Not only does HIPAA compliance safeguard you from these threats, but it also sets your business apart from the competition. It can help you attract new clients from all sectors. And it shows that you have policies and procedures in place to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of any data provided to your company and that you are fully committed to privacy and security.
Put simply, HIPAA compliance is a “good look.” And we can help you look your best.