HIPAA compliance: Deadlines and beyond

The deadline has passed for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and the Transactions and Code Sets Rule. With that in mind, many health care professionals feel that they can sit back and take a deep breath. But do not be fooled, both rules require continuous follow-up and monitoring. Additionally, the Security Rule requires compliance by April 2005. During implementation of future HIPAA regulations, health care professionals can benefit greatly from their experiences in meeting requirements of the Privacy Rule and the Transactions and Code Sets Rule. Many of the same tools and techniques may be used to ensure compliance with future HIPAA regulations. This article will discuss the need for ongoing compliance with the Privacy Rule, the Transactions and Code Sets Rule, and the implementation of the Security Rule.