The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the foundation for patient data protection in an ever-shifting modern healthcare sector.
Being aware of any legislation updates or changes is both an ethical and legal obligation for maintaining HIPAA compliance, delivering high-quality care, and ensuring patient privacy.
2024 brings significant changes to HIPAA in an attempt to address the complex nature of patient data management in an increasingly digital landscape.
Below, you will find the fundamental changes to HIPAA impacting healthcare providers.
Key HIPAA Updates for 2024
The 2024 HIPAA updates will transform healthcare compliance, bolster cybersecurity, improve privacy, and expand patient rights.
Increased Cybersecurity Requirements
Expanded Privacy Protections
- HIPAA privacy practice notice (DOCX)
- HIPAA privacy request form (DOC)
- HIPAA associate agreement (DOCX)
Updates on Breach Notification Requirements
Enhanced Patient Rights and Access
- Allowing patients to inspect PHI in person and take notes or photographs of their PHI.
- Allowing patients to obtain copies of their medical records in electronic form and to request corrections to inaccurate information.
- Reducing the maximum time to provide access to PHI from 30 days to 15 days.
- HIPAA-covered entities must post estimated fee schedules on their websites for PHI access and disclosures.
- HIPAA-covered entities must provide individualized estimates of the fees for providing an individual with a copy of their own PHI.
- Restricting the right of individuals to transfer ePHI to a third party, limiting this knowledge to only systems maintained by an EHR.
Your Guide To Patient Rights | |
| Patients must be able to | Clinics are required to |
| Inspect their personal information and take notes or photographs of their PHI | Reduce the maximum time to provide patient access from 30 to 15 days |
| Obtain copies of medical records in electronic form and request corrections | Post estimated fee schedules on their websites |
| Transfer their electronic personal information but only to electronic healthcare record systems | Provide individualized estimates of fees for providing an individual with a copy of their PHI |
Maintaining HIPAA Compliance in 2024 and Beyond
Here are a few additional things you can do to ensure you are positioned for a simpler transition and aware of any changes that may be coming your way.
Continuous Training
Continuous Training is the cornerstone of a resilient HIPAA compliance strategy. By embedding a culture of awareness and responsibility through regular staff training, healthcare organizations meet regulatory requirements and cultivate an environment where every team member takes an active role in the process.
This training extends to EHR software and internet security protocols. The more healthcare teams understand the technologies they are using, the more they can understand the potential risks.
By conducting training sessions regularly, healthcare providers and admin teams will always be aware of the latest cybersecurity risks, the current level of protection offered at the server level, and the protections built into the EHR software.
It is also wise to conduct training sessions around breach notification plans and any plans created for addressing cybersecurity risks.
Conduct Regular Audits
Perform regular audits of your security measures, ensuring that they align with the latest HIPAA requirements.
Regularly explore your security protocols to address any potential gaps and adapt to changing risks along with the changing legislation.
When conducting audits, be sure to include an audit of the established procedures for patients exercising their privacy rights. These policies and procedures should be clear and accessible as well as HIPAA compliant.
Engage in Industry Forums
Engaging in industry forums is a great way to stay informed on what is happening in healthcare.
Forums provide an opportunity to learn more about upcoming or expective legislative changes and how they can be addressed.
These platforms are a hotbed for insight, providing members with tips and advice on how to adapt.
When you understand what has and has not worked for others, you can better understand what might work in your own organization.
Staying in Line with CareTracker
There is little doubt that the amendments laid out above will create considerable challenges for healthcare providers and organizations.
While the administrative burden may be higher during the transition period, it will lessen overall with time.
The final rule is expected sometime in 2024, but no date has been given. This means there is time to begin updating policies and procedures and any necessary changes to notices of privacy practices.
As you strive for HIPAA compliance in 2024, aligning with a trusted EHR provider like Harris CareTracker is instrumental.
Our security system prioritizes HIPAA compliance ensuring all users are well-positioned to adapt to changes without negative consequences, downtime, or complicated technology upgrades.
Adapting to HIPAA updates is an ongoing process. Harris CareTracker empowers you to provide quality care while maintaining the highest standards of patient data protection.
For information, or to request a consultation, contact Harris CareTracker.
