HIPAA and HITRUST are two important regulatory standards that play a crucial role in ensuring data security and compliance in the healthcare industry. While both aim to protect sensitive medical information, there are significant differences between them.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the nuances of HIPAA and HITRUST and explore their similarities, differences, and implications in healthcare compliance. By understanding these differences, healthcare organizations can ensure they are meeting all necessary requirements and implementing the appropriate security measures to protect patient data.
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was enacted in 1996. Its primary goal is to protect patients’ personal health information (PHI) by setting standards for electronic healthcare transactions, establishing privacy and security rules for healthcare providers, and ensuring the confidentiality of PHI.
HIPAA is a federal law that applies to all healthcare providers, health plans, and clearinghouses that process or store electronic medical information. It also extends to any business associates who handle PHI on behalf of covered entities.
What is HITRUST?
HITRUST stands for Health Information Trust Alliance and is a certification program that helps organizations demonstrate compliance with various regulatory standards, including HIPAA. It was developed in 2007 to streamline the process of complying with multiple regulations and data protection frameworks.
HITRUST offers a comprehensive approach to managing information security risks and offers healthcare organizations a framework for assessing, reporting, and improving their data protection practices. It also requires organizations to undergo regular audits to maintain their certification.
Key Differences Between HIPAA and HITRUST
Now that we have a basic understanding of HIPAA and HITRUST let’s take a closer look at their differences:
1. Scope and Applicability
- HIPAA: Applies to covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses) and their business associates. It only covers the privacy and security of electronic PHI.
- HITRUST: Applies to all organizations that handle sensitive healthcare data, including covered entities and their business associates. It extends beyond electronic PHI to include any information or system that could impact patient privacy and security.
2. Certification
- HIPAA: HIPAA compliance is mandatory for covered entities, but there is no official certification process. Instead, organizations must conduct a risk analysis and implement appropriate safeguards to protect PHI.
- HITRUST: HITRUST certification is voluntary and requires organizations to undergo a thorough assessment and regular audits. It is becoming increasingly popular as it provides a comprehensive approach to managing information security risks.
3. Security Controls
- HIPAA: HIPAA outlines specific requirements for data security, such as implementing access controls, encryption, and disaster recovery plans. However, it does not provide specific guidelines or control frameworks for organizations to follow.
- HITRUST: HITRUST incorporates various security controls from multiple frameworks, including HIPAA, NIST, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001. This allows organizations to choose the most appropriate controls based on their specific needs.
4. Audits
- HIPAA: HIPAA does not require regular audits but does conduct random compliance audits and investigations. Violations can result in penalties and fines.
- HITRUST: Organizations must undergo regular audits to maintain their HITRUST certification. This ensures that they are continually meeting the necessary requirements and implementing appropriate security measures.
5. Implementation Requirements
- HIPAA: Provides high-level standards and guidelines for protecting PHI without specific implementation requirements.
- HITRUST: Offers a prescriptive framework with detailed implementation requirements and controls tailored to healthcare organizations’ needs.
6. Flexibility vs. Rigidity
- HIPAA: Provides flexibility in implementation, allowing organizations to adopt security measures suitable for their specific needs.
- HITRUST: Offers a more rigid framework with specific requirements, ensuring a standardized approach to security and privacy.
7. Third-party Validation
- HIPAA: Relies on self-assessment and audits conducted by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). However, organizations may also choose to undergo third-party assessments for additional validation.
- HITRUST: Requires third-party assessments conducted by HITRUST-certified assessors to validate compliance with its framework.
8. Risk Management Approach
- HIPAA: Emphasizes the importance of risk analysis and management but does not prescribe a specific methodology. Organizations must conduct a risk analysis and implement appropriate safeguards to comply with HIPAA.
- HITRUST: Offers a standardized approach to risk management, incorporating various frameworks, methodologies, and best practices. It also requires organizations to develop a comprehensive risk management plan.
Conclusion
While both HIPAA and HITRUST aim to safeguard healthcare data and promote compliance, they differ in scope, implementation requirements, certification processes, and approach to risk management. HIPAA serves as a foundational regulatory framework, while HITRUST offers a more comprehensive and prescriptive approach to managing security and privacy risks in the healthcare industry. Organizations operating in the healthcare sector must understand these differences to effectively navigate compliance requirements and ensure the protection of sensitive patient information.
Need for ongoing compliance and risk management efforts, contact us today for more about how we can help your organization achieve and maintain HIPAA and HITRUST compliance. Let’s work together to protect the confidentiality of PHI and maintain trust in the healthcare industry as a whole. Call us on (877) 220-8774 or email at info@medicalitg.com.
