Most healthcare organizations are not fully prepared for a privacy and security audit by federal HIPAA regulators, according to a Nov. 2011 survey conducted by HCPro.
The government has already begun conducting HIPAA audits. Earlier this year, the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces HIPAA privacy and security, hired a contractor to audit providers at random. The office aimed to determine how many providers would be HIPAA compliant by Dec. 31, 2012.
HCPro's survey results shoed that only 17 percent of responding organizations said they are fully prepared for an OCR privacy and security compliance audit. Of the more than 400 respondents, 281 — or 70 percent — said they are "somewhat prepared" for a government-conducted HIPAA audit.
The OCR has hired a contractor to conduct the audits starting this fall and lasting through Dec. 2012. The audits are expected to produce action plans for facilities that cannot achieve HIPAA compliance.
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The government has already begun conducting HIPAA audits. Earlier this year, the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces HIPAA privacy and security, hired a contractor to audit providers at random. The office aimed to determine how many providers would be HIPAA compliant by Dec. 31, 2012.
HCPro's survey results shoed that only 17 percent of responding organizations said they are fully prepared for an OCR privacy and security compliance audit. Of the more than 400 respondents, 281 — or 70 percent — said they are "somewhat prepared" for a government-conducted HIPAA audit.
The OCR has hired a contractor to conduct the audits starting this fall and lasting through Dec. 2012. The audits are expected to produce action plans for facilities that cannot achieve HIPAA compliance.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing and Collections:
EMR Transition Creates Opportunity to Review E/M Documentation Guidelines
AMA Opposes ICD-10 -- Now What?
What Does Dr. Don Berwick's Departure Mean for ICD-10 Implementation?