HIPAA Compliance & Cybersecurity in Healthcare Ensuring the privacy and protection of sensitive health data is a critical aspect of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) serves as a foundational regulation that safeguards Protected Health Information (PHI). This legislation outlines strict guidelines for how patient data should be accessed, shared, and secured in both digital and physical formats.
Entities that collect, manage, or transmit electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) fall under HIPAA regulations. This primarily includes healthcare service providers, insurance companies, and other organizations operating within the healthcare ecosystem that handle sensitive patient data through digital systems.
Any third-party organization or business associate that accesses or handles Protected Health Information (PHI) on behalf of a covered entity under a contractual agreement is also subject to HIPAA compliance. This includes billing agencies, IT service providers, cloud storage vendors, consultants, and other support partners involved in managing or processing patient data.