HITRUST

The Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) defines itself as an independent, nonprofit organization that empowers organizations and individuals to achieve more with health information technology by providing a trusted environment where they can safely exchange electronic health information with one another. In simple terms, it is an industry standard that organizations can follow to ensure they are storing and transferring sensitive medical information in the safest way possible. However, this standard isn’t new or unique to the United States; why does it matter specifically here? What exactly does HITRUST certification entail?

What is HITRUST?

The Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2007. The organization’s mission is to improve the security and privacy of sensitive health information. It accomplishes this through setting standards, providing education, and facilitating compliance with regulations such as HIPAA. One of its most popular programs is the HITRUST Security Assessment & Authorization Program which offers to assess organizations’ risk profiles and evaluate their controls against common attack vectors including malware, phishing, hacking, data breaches, etc.

Who needs a HITRUST certificate?

Any business that deals with electronic protected health information (ePHI) needs to be certified by HITRUST. This includes healthcare providers, health plans, pharmaceutical companies, and life sciences companies. In order to get certified, businesses must go through a rigorous assessment process. For example, they will be evaluated on their policies and procedures, employee training programs, and risk assessments. They will also need to complete an annual self-assessment to ensure compliance with standards set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Achieving HIPAA Compliance can help save time dealing with administrative paperwork; make sure your company’s data stays secure; reduce liability from HIPAA violations; improve efficiency from becoming HIPAA compliant; protect patient privacy; meet federal regulations.

What are the benefits of HIPAA certification?

The benefits of HITRUST certification are many, but most importantly, it demonstrates to your customers that you take data security and privacy seriously. It also helps you create a comprehensive security program tailored to your specific needs, and can give you a competitive edge when bidding on contracts. Plus, it can help you save money on insurance premiums. And by complying with HIPAA standards, you can avoid paying hefty fines—or worse—a lawsuit if you violate patient rights or put sensitive information at risk. If all this isn’t enough incentive to get certified, just ask your employees how they feel about working at an organization with serious security policies. They’ll be glad to tell you how much more comfortable they feel knowing their information is protected every day.

How to apply for HIPAA compliance?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a set of regulations designed to protect patient health information. In order to comply with HIPAA, businesses must take steps to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all Protected Health Information (PHI). One way to demonstrate compliance is by obtaining a HITRUST certification. HITRUST is a third-party certification that verifies an organization’s security controls meet or exceed HIPAA requirements. When you achieve this certification, you can use this logo on your website and marketing materials to assure potential customers of your commitment to protecting their data. It’s also helpful when applying for government contracts because some require vendors be certified under HIPAA or HITRUST.

The Roadmap to HIPAA Compliance

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Protected Health Information (PHI). The HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) is a comprehensive, security framework that addresses all aspects of security and privacy. The CSF has been recognized by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an acceptable means of achieving compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule. One key aspect of the CSF is its adoption of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework which has been developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and provides organizations with guidance on how to manage risk while protecting privacy, ensuring data protection, improving operational resilience, mitigating threats, eliminating vulnerabilities, implementing measures that reduce cybersecurity risks across their entire enterprise.

Achieving a certified level will provide assurance to customers or clients that your company takes data protection seriously.