In 2003, all healthcare entities that process health-related data were required to comply with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The ultimate objective of HIPAA is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of health information systems through improvements in electronic health care transactions as well as to maintain the security and privacy of individually identifiable health information.
Privacy of computer systems and Internet connections requires constant knowledge of the status of those systems — whether or not firewalls are locked down, patches are up-to-date, linked partners are living up to their contractual commitments, or secure online communications are always encrypted. Marco has two certified HIPAA administrators on staff to provide answers and security solutions to these concerns.