Overview

Imagine a HIPAA consulting organization that can ensure the implementation of all applicable requirements, HIPAA risk assessment, Policy Documentation, employee training, and the establishment of a monitoring program, leading to a successful compliance report within an agreed-upon target time. Does this sound too good to be true? At Coral, this is the passion that every consultant strives to deliver.
Our HIPAA compliance methodology is tailored to fit the privacy exposure of your organization, whether you are a covered entity or a business associate.
Whether you are a Startup or a seasoned business with operations across the globe, Coral’s methodologies are perfectly designed to help you achieve your HIPAA goals.
At Coral, we provide customized solutions for your business needs, whether your applications and network are on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid environment. Our team has extensive experience in delivering tailored programs, no matter how complex your requirements are.
Our team of experienced consultants prioritizes a personalized approach to guide clients through the HIPAA compliance process.
As the frequency of healthcare breaches continues to rise, organizations must adopt a comprehensive healthcare security management program. To stay ahead of the game, Coral's consulting approach emphasizes providing top-notch advice to help establish a continuous program for overseeing healthcare privacy and security.
Get started on your comprehensive HIPAA journey by calling or contacting us.

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HIPAA Consulting Engagement Phases

Here is a brief overview of all the phases involved in implementing HIPAA compliance.

Phase I - Scoping that includes understanding the Business, and ePHI Data Processing

Scoping involves the identification of:

Business entities,
Identification of epHI and its flow including lifecycle
Information systems in scope,
Business locations
Data Center and Cloud Services Providers
Users of ePHI

Phase II -
Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment

Based on the outcome of phase I, a combination of approaches is applied by Coral HIPAA security compliance consultants to conduct the gap analysis.

Coral consultants will take a deep dive to assess information flow, current assets and infrastructure and their protection methods.
A session with each organization team in scope to asses their current scope of work and their controls
This helps in the determination of applicable, and the not applicable controls.
This helps in determining the state of applicable controls in red, orange and green - determining their current status.
Coral HIPAA consultants will advise mitigation methods to address the identified gaps.

Phase III - Control - Design, Documentation, Implementation, Measurement, and Risk Management

The implementation journey are based on the number of gaps
Implementation involves discussing each gap with the team and advising changes in the short and long-term
Coral HIPAA Consultants will help in documenting policies and procedures - that will ensure requirements are addressed and implemented.
Each policy documentation or risk undergoes brainstorming with staff to derive at a ‘best-fit’ solution for the organization.

Phase IV -
Training & Brainstorming Sessions

Training of staff involved in HIPAA operations is a key factor in successful HIPAA implementation.
Depending upon the audience, Coral consultants will deliver a combination of training that includes awareness, risk management and standard interpretation.

Phase V -
Measurement of Controls including Internal Audit

Upon the completion of the implementation phase, Coral performs monthly tests of controls to ensure that designed controls are operating effectively.

These tests are conducted across all applicable HIPAA controls that are implemented
A formal report is published for the management team for the overall program effectiveness, especially the newly developed and implemented security controls and practices.

Summary

At this stage:

As a result of undergoing the previous phases, Coral has successfully implemented a HIPAA governance program that includes people, processes, technology and ongoing measurements.
Each of the HIPAA requirements has been completed by a combination of one or more of policy, procedures, responsibilities, reports, records, technology, and automation.
At this stage, the client defined an annual plan of tasks using which they demonstrate their ongoing commitment
At this stage, with all areas of HIPAA compliance being completed, the client can declare itself to be HIPAA compliant.

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Security Coverage

HIPAA Rule covers the following key areas

Administrative Safeguards

Security Management Process
Assigned Security Responsibility
Workforce Security
Information Access Management
Security Awareness and Training
Security Incident Procedures
Contingency Plan
Evaluation
Business Associate Contracts and Other Arrangements

Physical Safeguards

Facility Access Controls
Workstation Use
Workstation Security
Device and Media Controls

Organizational Requirements

Business Associate Contracts or Other Arrangements
Requirements for Group Health Plans

Technical Safeguards

Access Control
Audit Controls
Integrity
Person or Entity Authentication
Transmission Security

HIPAA FAQs

What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 in the United States established a set of rules known as the Privacy Rule, commonly referred to as the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The Privacy Rule's main goal is to safeguard the privacy of individuals' personal health information while maintaining the necessary information flow for healthcare and related reasons.
What is the HIPAA Security Rule?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 in the United States introduced the HIPAA Security Rule, which is a supplement to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The Security Rule addresses the safeguards and measures that covered entities and their business associates must put in place to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI), while the Privacy Rule focuses on safeguarding the privacy of people's health information. Maintaining the trust of patients and clients while guaranteeing the security of electronic health information requires compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule. Similar to the HIPAA Privacy Rule's penalties and fines, non-compliance can result in severe punishment.
Who needs to be HIPAA compliant?
There are two categories of entities here:
- Covered Entities and Business Associates.
- Covered entities are health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers who electronically transmit any health information in connection with transactions for which HHS has adopted standards.
- Business Associates perform certain functions that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information either through services provided to or action taken on behalf of a covered entity.
A HIPAA Business Associate may include:
- A third-party claims processor
- An accounting firm who must access patient data in order to provide services to a healthcare provider
- The attorney for a healthcare provider
- Consultants
- Healthcare clearinghouses that translate claims from non-standard formats to standard formats
- Freelance medical transcriptionists
- Pharmacy benefits managers
What is Protected Health Information under HIPAA?

According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), individually identifiable health information created, obtained, maintained, or transmitted by covered companies and their business partners is referred to as Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is defined as any information—oral, written, or verbal—that relates to a person's past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, to the provision of healthcare to that person, or to the payment for healthcare services that person receives. PHI is delicate and needs to be safeguarded to protect people's privacy and confidentiality.
What is the penalty for HIPAA breach?

The penalties for non-compliance with HIPAA regulations ranges from $100 to $50,000 per violation, depending on the severity of the violation.
What is a HIPAA risk assessment?
A HIPAA risk assessment, also referred to as a HIPAA security risk assessment or a HIPAA risk analysis, is a procedure used by covered entities and their business partners to find potential holes and threats to the privacy, security, and accessibility of protected health information (PHI). A crucial step in adhering to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule is the risk assessment.

The main objectives of a HIPAA risk assessment are as follows:
- Identify Risks
- Evaluate Existing Security Measures
- Determine Risk Levels
- Develop Mitigation Strategies
- Maintain Compliance
Is there a HIPAA certification?

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which upholds HIPAA standards, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) do not offer or support any formal HIPAA compliance certification programs. The implementation of HIPAA compliance is a continuous self-assessment process that is the responsibility of covered businesses and their business associates.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rule, which specify the rules for protecting Protected Health Information (PHI) and guaranteeing the privacy and security of individual health information, must all be followed in order to be in compliance with HIPAA.

There is no formal certification, however some businesses and private individuals could assert to have programs that offer "HIPAA certification" or "HIPAA compliance certification." However, since there is no formal government-issued HIPAA compliance certification, it is imperative to exercise caution when dealing with such claims.
How long does it take to be HIPAA compliant?

The general rule is 2-6 months depending upon the number of gaps identified and the management budget to close those gaps.