As online payments are becoming the norm in most industries, healthcare businesses are moving toward them as well. If you’re a healthcare provider, however, you may find it challenging to ensure your online payment options comply with HIPAA regulations. Read on to learn more about what HIPAA involves and how to maintain HIPAA compliance.
What Is HIPAA?
HIPAA is short for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This is a federal law that states healthcare providers must protect the privacy of their patients. This includes protecting any details that may make it possible to identify a patient, such as:
- Name
- Address
- Health insurance number
- Social Security number
- Photographs and medical images
These details are best known as PHI, or protected health information. PHI can also include lab records, lab results, medical records, and so on. Healthcare providers can only use PHI without patient permission if this is necessary for their treatment. Unauthorized access to PHI can lead to identity theft, privacy breaches, and medical fraud.
HIPAA-Compliant Payment Methods
The best way for healthcare providers to protect their patients’ PHI is to use HIPAA-compliant payment methods. This includes any method that sticks to HIPAA guidelines, including the security, privacy, and breach notification rules. For instance, secure online portals offered by healthcare organizations where patients can make payments are HIPAA-compliant.
To begin accepting HIPAA-compliant payments in your healthcare practice, you’ll first need to choose a payment provider that uses HIPAA-compliant payment software. The best providers will also be able to integrate their payment options into your existing systems.
Maintaining HIPAA Compliance
Beyond finding a HIPAA-compliant provider, you’ll need to take a few other steps to maintain HIPAA compliance. For instance, you should never send payment receipts via unencrypted mail or text. Similarly, you shouldn’t store unencrypted payment card data in any form, including electronically, as this makes it much easier for bad actors to steal it.
Use the latest encryption technology to protect sensitive data. These technologies use point-to-point encryption, which secures the data as soon as you swipe the patient’s card. Even if cybercriminals get ahold of this data, the encryption will prevent them from using it.
Finally, ensure that your payment card readers are EMV-compatible. Due to the EMV liability shift rule, card brands now require all businesses to support this technology. If you accept a payment without EMV chip technology and it results in a fraudulent transaction, the liability for it will likely fall on you instead of the card networks.