| The
U.S. Healthcare Industry Quarterly HIPAA Compliance Survey that was
conducted by HIMSS (Health Information Management Systems Society)
found that there is slow movement of "covered entities" toward being
HIPAA compliant. Interestingly, budgets are higher for 2003 than for
2002, with increased support from senior members of payors, providers
and claims clearing houses. Less than encouraging results, however,
indicate that since the summer of the 2002 survey, fewer than 50% of
providers and payors have actually completed the Privacy and
Transaction remediation. The major roadblock to HIPAA compliance is back to interpreting
the regulations and supposedly not enough time to complete the required
tasks. Costs, state preemptions and having a lack of industry "best
practices" examples are also culprits to delays.
Only 20% of all applicants required
to have a HIPAA Compliancy Plan have complied by the October 16, 2002
date. Therefore, 80% of all "covered entities" have some work to do
before the next round of compliance. The fines for non-compliance are
high and indicated in previous articles.
If you would like to read the complete results of the survey, click on the following URL:
http://www.hipaadvisory.com/action/surveynew/fall2002.htm
Continue to become HIPAA-prosperous.
Regards,
Ron |