HIPAA-HITECH compliance is now serious business for TPAs, with added responsibilities, more risk and much bigger penalties.--Bob Chaput, CEO & Founder Clearwater Compliance.com
NASHVILLE, TENN. (PRWEB) November 13, 2013
Clearwater Compliance announced today it has published a new instructional resource for Third Party Administrators (TPAs) that clearly outlines their responsibilities related to HIPAA-HITECH compliance.
Clearwater’s new white paper, titled “HIPAA Compliance Now Even More Critical for Third Party Administrators”, provides helpful insight and tips for TPAs, including 11 necessary steps for TPAs to ensure compliance with HIPAA-HITECH regulations. Click here to download a copy.
With enforcement of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule now in full effect, TPAs can be held accountable for civil and criminal penalties for failing to properly comply with its requirements. Penalties are sizable, with the potential for multimillion-dollar fines. TPAs accrue many more regulatory compliance obligations than most other business associates, given the nature of the work they perform and their direct interaction with plan members.
“HIPAA-HITECH compliance is now serious business for TPAs, with added responsibilities, more risk and much bigger penalties,” said Bob Chaput, CEO and Founder of Clearwater Compliance. “Those who don’t fully understand these regulations, and take appropriate steps to comply with them, are putting their business and their plan members at great risk.”
Clearwater is a leading provider of software and solutions that help organizations become and remain HIPAA-HITECH compliant. The company also has a long history of providing high-value, complimentary educational resources focused on timely HIPAA-HITECH topics, including web forums, webinars, seminars and white papers.
TPA Compliance White Paper excerpts:
Clearwater’s white paper focuses on key areas for TPAs, such as:
“Establish or update a Privacy and Security Risk Management & Governance Program - From a security standpoint, the program should incorporate security measures sufficient to reduce risks and vulnerabilities to a reasonable and appropriate level.”
It also provides practical steps toward creating or improving an organization-wide Risk Management Program, including:
“Minimize the amount of PHI the organization sees or retains – If PHI must be retained in your systems, encrypt the data, especially if it is stored on mobile devices. Check with your vendor to see if it is already providing ‘encrypted data at rest.’”
Interested in this complimentary resource? Click here to download a copy.
Additional white papers, as well as a library of live and on-demand webinars, covering a wide range of HIPAA-HITECH topics are available online at the company’s website: http://www.clearwatercompliance.com.
About Clearwater Compliance
Clearwater Compliance, LLC, is all about and only about helping healthcare organizations and their service providers become and remain HIPAA-HITECH Compliant. Owned and operated by veteran, C-suite health care executives, Clearwater Compliance provides comprehensive, by-the-regs HIPAA software and tools, risk management solutions, training, and professional services for small medical practices and healthcare startups to major healthcare systems, health plans and Fortune 100 companies. Since 2003, the company has served more than 350 organizations. Find out more about our HIPAA compliance software, solutions and consulting services at clearwatercompliance.com.
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