HealthBlawg

David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog

  • About
  • Archives
  • Podcast
  • Press
  • Awards/Reviews
  • HIPAA
  • HCSM

OCR Releases HIPAA Privacy and Security Audit Protocol

June 27, 2012

Having completed an initial 20 HIPAA privacy and security compliance audits since last fall, and with 95 additional audits in the pipeline, OCR has just released its HIPAA privacy and security audit protocol, together with information about the audit pilot program.  As always, information like this is extremely valuable to the regulated community.  Covered entities and business associates should avail themselves of the information contained in the audit protocol and related materials so that they may prepare themselves for the eventuality of an audit or investigation — whether as part of the current audit plan or otherwise — and focus their compliance efforts.

(Links updated 06/01/2013)

From the OCR website: 

The OCR HIPAA Audit program analyzes processes, controls, and policies of selected covered entities pursuant to the HITECH Act audit mandate. OCR established a comprehensive audit protocol that contains the requirements to be assessed through these performance audits. The entire audit protocol is organized around modules, representing separate elements of privacy, security, and breach notification. The combination of these multiple requirements may vary based on the type of covered entity selected for review.

  • The audit protocol covers Privacy Rule requirements for (1) notice of privacy practices for PHI, (2) rights to request privacy protection for PHI, (3) access of individuals to PHI, (4) administrative requirements, (5) uses and disclosures of PHI, (6) amendment of PHI, and (7) accounting of disclosures.
  • The protocol covers Security Rule requirements for administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
  • The protocol covers requirements for the Breach Notification Rule.

OCR reported on the first 20 audits it conducted as well:

OCR Audit Presentation – First 20 Audits

David Harlow
The Harlow Group LLC
Health Care Law and Consulting 

 

Related Posts

  • News of first HIPAA security audit trickles out

    While neither the federales nor the hospital in question has confirmed the story, an Atlanta…

  • Surprise! HIPAA audit!

    It appears that HHS has engaged PriceWaterhouseCoopers to perform HIPAA compliance audits at hospitals that…

  • HIMSS Privacy and Security Forum: Managing Social Media While Protecting Privacy and Security

    I spoke at this week's HIMSS Privacy and Security Forum in Boston on the privacy…

Filed Under: Health care policy, Health Law, HIPAA, Privacy, Security

« The Supreme Court decision on the health reform law (has not yet been issued)
SCOTUS on the ACA – The Supreme Court Rules on the Health Reform Law »

Threads

Follow me on: Threads

Mastodon

Follow me on: Mastodon

HIPAAtools

Hipaatools

The HIPAA Compliance Toolkit

The Walking Gallery

The Walking Gallery

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Categories
  • Archives
  • Podcast Interviews
  • HIPAAtools
  • HIPAA Compliance
  • Health Care Social Media
  • Speaking
  • In the Press
  • Blogroll

David Harlow

David Harlow

HealthcareNOW Radio

  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Book Me: Speaking
  • About
  • The Harlow Group LLC
Copyright © 2006–2025
HealthBlawg is a publication of The Harlow Group LLC. See Copyright notice and disclaimer.
Fair use with attribution and a link is encouraged. Click for more on David Harlow.
[footer_backtotop text="Back to top" href="#"]