| HIPAA Overview
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
was enacted under President Bill Clinton in 1996. This law ensures
the continuity of healthcare coverage for individuals changing
jobs and includes a provision that impacts on the management of
heath information; seeks to simplify the administration of health
insurance; and aims to combat waste, fraud and abuse in health
insurance and healthcare.
Security and Privacy Mandates
HIPAA regulations include requirements for ensuring the security
and privacy of individuals’ protected health information
(PHI). The standards aim to maintain the right of individuals
to keep private information about themselves.
The Department of Health and Human Services is charged with developing
and issuing regulations to address these requirements. Final privacy
compliance is required by April 14, 2003. The security rule is
being finalized; the released date is expected to be in early 2003.
Protected Information
HIPAA regulations protect medical records and other “individually
identifiable health information” (communicated electronically,
on paper, or orally) that are created or received by covered health
care entities that transmit information electronically. This would
include any information, including demographic information collected
from an individual, as well as any information that identifies
an individual, or could be reasonably believed to identify an individual.
HIPAA protects individually identifiable health information, which
relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health
condition of an individual.
Acusis HIPAA Compliance
Acusis believes that emerging privacy and security
requirements captured by regulations such as HIPAA are an important
improvement to the healthcare industry. We believe the changes
required are achieved by policy and process controls and technology
upgrades. This includes all associates from both the United States
and India signing a non-disclosure/confidentiality policy statement.
As a provider of services to the medical industry,
Acusis has formed an internal HIPAA task force that includes the
participation of a cross-section of its internal departments. This
task force is charted with ensuring that all Acusis associates
receive the appropriate level of HIPAA awareness training. HIPAA
security compliance rules are also enforced in the development
and installation of all Acusis applications. This ensures reasonable
maintenance of appropriate administration, technical and physical
safeguards for the integrity and confidentiality of all PHI that
Acusis receives or processes for our customers. Currently, we believe
our service offering meets or exceeds HIPAA and JCAHO regulations.
We seek input from HIPAA consultants to ensure current compliance
and to maintain superior confidentiality of patient records.
Confidentiality of Records
Acusis requires all associates to comply with all applicable federal
and state laws regarding confidentiality of patient medical reports.
Precautions have been taken to prevent the unauthorized disclosure
of records transcribed under the terms of our customer agreement.
Should any federal or state data transmission regulations apply,
Acusis complies with all necessary requirements for electronic
data delivery to their customers.
Records Availability
Until the expiration of four (4) years after the furnishing of
services, Acusis makes customer agreements and its books, documents
and records available to Department of Health and Human Services
to the extent required by HIPAA, if it is determined that such
act and the implementing regulations apply.
Acusis has established a reputation for
providing user-friendly solutions while protecting the privacy
and security of an organization’s
unique workflow, as well as the organization’s patient’s
confidentiality. Our software and services incorporate the core
HIPAA requirements. We are committed to working with our customers,
to provide additional value as a business associate to assist in
meeting the continuing HIPAA challenge.
Acusis offers world-class quality and cost-effective transcription
solutions, while adhering to HIPAA privacy and security needs.
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