Creating a HIPAA Compliance Program for your dental office can be an arduous task. Just thinking about implementing the new HIPAA Omnibus Rules can be intimidating to say the least. And yes, HIPAA all changed as of September 23, 2013. So if you did not yet update your HIPAA Program to the new Omnibus Rule Standards, take-heed to our key recommendations for implementing a successful present-day HIPAA program. Reading the information below can make the difference between complete, comprehensive HIPAA Omnibus Rule Compliance and a “heaping HIPAA mess”….
1. Comprehensive is Key: Last September (2013), Federal HIPAA laws all changed. Make sure to choose a comprehensive HIPAA training solution. Implementing this without professional guidance may leave too many loose ends. These new laws are very precocious! Be sure your program includes: Employee Training, An new HIPAA Manual (written to Omnibus Rule Standards), Required Paper work for your Employees & Business Vendors, a Breach Reporting Protocol and new updated paperwork for patients too. Note that the new HIPAA law standards may be referred to as either “the Omnibus Rules” or “the Final Rule”. Choose a program that reflects such.
2. Work with HIPAA Experts: Make your life easier by choosing experts in this new area of HIPAA law. One that has had legal guidance when writing their program. Be sure that your HIPAA coaches will also offer updates to their program and that they can speak to all of the new Omnibus Rules with finesse.
3. Create a Relationship with your HIPAA Coach Be sure you can relate and interact with your new HIPAA coaches with ease. This subject matter is convoluted and complicated enough! You want to be sure you have an ally in the HIPAA Coach that you choose, not a heavy militant approach. Be sure that your HIPAA Guide can make themselves available via phone or email to answer questions and make clarifications as you implement these new cumbersome protocols.
HIPAA…It’s the new OSHA! But the new HIPAA laws are even more intense and expensive. Don’t be caught off-guard or out-of-sync. Get hip with a comprehensive HIPAA solution.
Written by Jill Obrochta & Heather Whitt of Dental Enhancements.
