Company
Date Published
Author
Michael Carroll
Word count
2172
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Technology has significantly altered how businesses operate, healthcare is delivered, and data is managed, but it also raises concerns about unauthorized access to protected health information (PHI). The U.S. government established the HIPAA Security Rule to safeguard PHI, which includes 18 identifiers that can be used to recognize, contact, or locate individuals, by mandating physical, technical, and administrative safeguards. Organizations handling PHI, known as covered entities, such as health plan providers and healthcare clearinghouses, must comply with these safeguards to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of electronic PHI and protect against unauthorized disclosures. The rule also extends to business associates involved in processing PHI on behalf of covered entities. Compliance involves implementing administrative safeguards like workforce training and risk analysis, physical safeguards such as device security and access control, and technical safeguards like authentication and transmission security. These measures collectively aim to mitigate internal and external threats, ensuring that PHI remains secure and private in the digital age.