Audits

Hipaa Privacy, Security, And Breach Notification Audit Program

Who Audits our practice? The HIPAA audit policies have been established by the Office of Civil Rights. (OCR).

Background On The Ocr Pilot Privacy, Security, And Breach Notification Audit Program:

The use of health information technology continues to expand in health care. Although these new technologies provide many opportunities and benefits for consumers, they also pose new risks to consumer privacy. Because of these increased risks, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) include national standards for the privacy of protected health information, the security of electronic protected health information, and breach notification to consumers. HITECH also requires HHS to perform periodic audits of covered entity and business associate compliance with the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules. HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces these rules, and in 2011, OCR established a pilot audit program to assess the controls and processes covered entities have implemented to comply with them. Through this program, OCR developed a protocol, or set of instructions, it then used to measure the efforts of 115 covered entities. As part of OCR’s continued commitment to protect health information, the office instituted a formal evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot audit program.

When Will The Audits Begin?

The pilot audit program is a three step process. The first step entailed developing the audit protocols. Next, a limited number of audits will be conducted in an initial wave to test these protocols. OCR expects the initial audits to begin in November 2011.The results of the initial audits will inform how the rest of the audits will be conducted. The last step will include conducting the full range of audits using revised protocol materials.

Who Will Be Audited?

Every covered entity and business associate is eligible for an audit. Selections in the initial round will be designed to provide a broad assessment of a complex and diverse health care industry. OCR is responsible for selection of the entities that will be audited. OCR will audit as wide a range of types and sizes of covered entities as possible; covered individual and organizational providers of health services, health plans of all sizes and functions, and health care clearinghouses may all be considered for an audit. We expect covered entities to provide the auditors their full cooperation and support and remind them of their cooperation obligations under the HIPAA Enforcement Rule.

Business Associates will be included in future audits.

What Happens After A Hipaa Audit?

Audits are primarily a compliance improvement activity. OCR will review the final reports, including the findings and actions taken by the audited entity to address findings. The aggregated results of the audits will enable OCR to better understand compliance efforts with particular aspects of the HIPAA Rules. Generally, OCR will use the audit reports to determine what types of technical assistance should be developed, and what types of corrective action are most effective. Should an audit report indicate a serious compliance issue, OCR may initiate a compliance review to address the problem. OCR will not post a listing of audited entities or the findings of an individual audit which clearly identifies the audited entity.

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