Question 1

What is HIPAA?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a United States federal law establishing national standards for protecting sensitive health information. It applies to organisations that create, receive, maintain, or transmit Protected Health Information (PHI).

Question 2

Who must comply with HIPAA?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA applies to Covered Entities (healthcare providers, health plans, clearinghouses) and Business Associates (organisations that handle PHI on behalf of covered entities including cloud providers, IT vendors, and SaaS platforms).

Question 3

What is PHI?

Accepted Answer

Protected Health Information (PHI) is any information relating to an individual's health, healthcare provision, or payment for healthcare that can identify that individual. Electronic PHI (ePHI) triggers strict security requirements under the HIPAA Security Rule.

Question 4

What evidence is needed for HIPAA?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA requires technical security records, administrative evidence including policies and risk assessments, incident documentation, training records, Business Associate Agreements, and ongoing compliance evidence demonstrating effective safeguards.

Question 5

What are HIPAA safeguards?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA defines three categories of safeguards: administrative (governance, policies, training), technical (access control, encryption, audit logging), and physical (facility security, device management). Together they protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI.

Question 6

What is the HIPAA Security Rule?

Accepted Answer

The HIPAA Security Rule defines how organisations must protect electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). It requires risk-based implementation of administrative, technical, and physical safeguards with continuous monitoring and documentation.

Question 7

What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

Accepted Answer

The HIPAA Privacy Rule defines how Protected Health Information may be used and disclosed. It establishes individual rights, requires minimum necessary use, and mandates privacy notices and consent mechanisms.

Question 8

What is a Business Associate Agreement?

Accepted Answer

A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is a legally binding contract required when PHI is shared with a third party. It establishes permitted uses, security requirements, and compliance obligations for the business associate.

Question 9

How does Basenorm support HIPAA?

Accepted Answer

Basenorm supports HIPAA by providing unified safeguard controls, automated evidence collection, risk assessment workflows, policy management, and continuous monitoring for administrative, technical, and physical requirements.

Question 10

What happens during a HIPAA audit?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA audits assess whether appropriate safeguards are implemented and operating effectively. Auditors review policies, risk assessments, access controls, encryption, audit logs, training records, and incident response documentation.

HIPAA Compliance for Healthcare Data Security

Complete HIPAA Safeguard Implementation

Three Safeguard Categories

PHI Data Flow

Processing Activities

Continuous HIPAA Compliance Readiness

Risk Management and Incident Governance

BAA Management

Frequently Asked Questions