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You are here: Home / Compliance / HIPAA Risk Analysis

HIPAA Risk Analysis

We provide HIPAA Risk Analysis services required to achieve HIPAA compliance and to safeguard your data against outside threats. Our compliance experts use proven processes, techniques and documentation for all risk assessments, analyses and compliance assessments.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires all organizations to conduct a HIPAA Risk Analysis as the first step in implementing the safeguards outlined in the HIPAA Security Rule. Our experts can help.

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HIPAA Risk Analysis

The Nine Mandatory Components of Risk Analysis

Since 1996, HIPAA has been regulating the privacy and security of electronic protected health information (ePHI) utilized by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers. The scope of that regulation was extended with the passing of the HITECH Act in 2009. Now compliance with the final HIPAA Omnibus Rule is mandated for covered entities as well as their third-party vendors (business associates). Failure to comply can lead to civil and criminal penalties.

The HHS Security Standards Guide outlines nine mandatory components of a HIPAA Risk Analysis that healthcare organizations and related organizations that handle ePHI (electronic protected health information) must include in their documentation following a HIPAA Risk Analysis.

#1 Scope of Analysis Expand

Any potential risks and vulnerabilities to the privacy, availability and integrity of ePHI. This includes all electronic media your organization uses to create, receive, maintain or transmit ePHI – portable media, desktops and networks.

#2 Data Collection Expand

Locate where data is being stored, received, maintained or transmitted. ePHI must be thoroughly tracked as it enters and moves through your organization.

#3 Identify and Document Potential Threats and Vulnerabilities Expand

Identify and document any anticipated threats to sensitive data, and any vulnerabilities that may lead to leaking of ePHI.

#4 Assess Current Secuirty Measures Expand

From a technical perspective, this might include any encryption, two-factor authentication or password policies.

#5 Determine the Likelihood of Threat Occurrence Expand

Take account of the probability of potential risks to ePHI – in combination with Potential Threats and Vulnerabilities, this assessment allows for estimates on the likelihood of ePHI breaches.

#6 Determine the Potential Impact of Threat Occurrence Expand

By using either qualitative or quantitative methods, assess the maximum impact of a data threat to your organization. How many people could be affected? What extent of private data could be exposed – just medical records, or both health information and billing information combined?

#7 Determine the Level of Risk Expand

HHS suggests taking the average of the assigned likelihood and impact levels to determine the level of risk. Documented risk levels should be accompanied by a list of corrective actions that would be performed to mitigate risk.

#8 Finalize Documentation Expand

Write everything up in an organized document or software – HHS doesn’t specify any format, but they do require the HIPAA Risk Analysis in writing.

#9 Periodic Review and Updates to the Risk Assessment Expand

It’s important the risk analysis process is ongoing – one requirement includes conducting a risk analysis on a regular basis. While the Security Rule doesn’t set a required timeline, HHS recommends organizations conduct another risk analysis whenever your company implements or plans to adopt new technology or business operations.

Our HIPAA Risk Analysis Service

Many organizations feel that a HIPAA Risk Analysis consists of a series of checklists that you complete once and no further actions are required. On the contrary, a thorough Risk Analysis requires a detailed analysis of your practice, technical know-how, research and comprehensive documentation. You must then prove ongoing compliance by periodically reviewing your policies and procedures, updating them as necessary, properly maintaining and monitoring all electronic equipment that house ePHI as well as perform regular audits to ensure your policies and procedures are effective.

Advanced Medical Billing’s HIPAA Risk Analysis Service involves a multifaceted technical and nontechnical review that results in a detailed security and regulatory compliance report. We review the required elements of the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Rules against your current compliance program. We can then make recommendations to establish or revise your policies and procedures. This thorough review helps to identify threats and vulnerabilities relevant to your organization, exploit gaps in your regulatory and security controls and is underpinned by an on-site assessment and available remote monitoring of your information systems to identify weaknesses and to avoid potential issues.

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