Does your business involve interacting with patients? Whether you run a NEMT (non-emergency medical transport) business or a pharmacy that has a clinic attached, you need to ensure that all of your employees adhere to HIPAA laws. If they fall short on this, your business could end up getting fined, or worse, you could have your health insurance company contract revoked for good.
So, what do you need to know about HIPAA? Here are the “nuts and bolts” of the current HIPAA laws, as well as how to protect your company with an insurance plan should those laws get violated.
What Are HIPAA Laws?
HIPAA, also known as the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was put into place in 1996. The laws involve the sharing of health-related information, as well as the need to keep that information private and confidential. As a result, medical providers of any kind are not allowed to share a patient’s personal health information in any way, shape, or form with people who are not authorized to have it.
For example, a health care worker who treats a celebrity and speaks to the press after an accident about their injuries, is in violation of HIPAA laws. These laws don’t just apply to celebrities though; they provide all of us with privacy and protection.
Another scenario involves heath care workers and a single patient. These employees are allowed to discuss the patient’s healthcare, including diagnosis and treatment with one another, as long as they are assisting the patient. This doesn’t violate HIPAA.
How Can They Be Violated?
Violating HIPAA is as easy as an NEMT driver disclosing someone’s personal health information to the other passengers after that person leaves the vehicle. It’s a pharmacist or pharmacy assistant calling out the medication instead of the patient’s name to everyone waiting in line. A hacker getting ahold of your clinic’s records and posting them online is another HIPAA violation, as it’s your company’s job to keep that information behind several safe firewalls.
What Are My Insurance Options?
When a HIPAA violation occurs, your company could be hit with fines and other penalties that can drastically affect your business. Thankfully, there are some insurance solutions that can prevent your business from paying those fines out of pocket. These include:
Professional Liability Insurance – Specifically, Errors and Omissions insurance. A HIPAA violation, mistaken medication, and other risky health issues can lead to lawsuits against your company. Your professional liability insurance can help.
HIPAA Breach Insurance – These insurance plans work similarly to cyber liability insurance policies, giving your business coverage should your private servers get hacked or breached, releasing patient information to the masses.
Directors and Officers Insurance – The people running your business, that is, the directors of the board and other officers, can accidentally breach HIPAA as well, leaving them open to lawsuits. This type of insurance plan will cover your company if this occurs.
Have Questions? Contact Charlotte Insurance
Want to learn more about HIPAA insurance plans for NEMT companies, pharmacies, and small clinics? Contact Charlotte Insurance. Our agents can explore and explain all available options and put together the insurance coverage plan your business needs.