HIPAA Modifications & HITECH Rules: A Guide to the Security Essentials

Presented by Information Security Media Group 60 Minutes

Sorting through all the complex security details in three new federal regulations is challenging -- but essential. These rules could help set your organization's security priorities.

Join us for this exclusive session in which noted experts will pinpoint the key provisions of a proposal to modify the HIPAA privacy and security rules, as well as two final rules for the federal electronic health record incentive program.

Our speakers will provide you with:

An explanation of how the HIPAA modifications would beef up requirements for business associates, hospitals and physicians;
A detailed description of the security components required for electronic health records software in the incentive program;
An analysis of what security steps hospitals and physicians must take to qualify for the incentives.

Background

The HITECH Act, part of the massive economic stimulus package, will provide as much as $27 billion in incentives to hospitals and physicians who implement certified EHRs. But qualifying for the incentive payments will be a challenging task that involves meeting tough security requirements.

In addition, the HITECH Act required HIPAA modifications that, among other things, clarify that business associates that serve health care organizations must comply with HIPAA.

In this session, you'll learn how to:

Comply with the meaningful use rule's mandate for risk assessments;
Interpret the meaningful use rule's requirements for protecting patient information;
Determine the specific EHR software security components required under the incentive program;
Understand what business associates must do to ensure they're in compliance with HIPAA;
Respond to patients' requests for timely access to their electronic records while maintaining security;
Address many other issues, including how to comply with patients' requests to restrict access to their records.