HIPA-27

Can you provide a HIPAA compliance attestation document?

Explanation

This question is asking whether your organization can provide documentation that attests to your compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA is a U.S. federal law established in 1996 that sets standards for protecting sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. Organizations that handle Protected Health Information (PHI) must implement specific safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of this data. A HIPAA compliance attestation document is formal documentation that demonstrates your organization has undergone assessment against HIPAA requirements and is meeting the necessary standards. This could be in the form of a self-attestation, a third-party assessment report, or certification from an auditing firm. This question is being asked in a security assessment because: 1. If your service processes, stores, or transmits PHI, you are required by law to be HIPAA compliant 2. Organizations that share data with you need assurance that you won't put them at legal risk 3. It demonstrates your commitment to data protection standards specific to healthcare information The best way to answer this question is to: 1. Clearly state whether you have formal HIPAA attestation documentation 2. Specify what type of attestation you have (self-assessment, third-party audit, etc.) 3. Mention when it was last completed/updated 4. Indicate your willingness to share this documentation (possibly under NDA) 5. If you don't have formal attestation but are HIPAA compliant, explain your compliance approach

Guidance

Refer to HIPAA regulations documentation for supplemental guidance in this section.

Example Responses

Example Response 1

Yes, our organization can provide a HIPAA compliance attestation document We undergo annual third-party HIPAA compliance audits conducted by Ernst & Young Our most recent attestation was completed on March 15, 2023, and covers all aspects of the HIPAA Security Rule, Privacy Rule, and Breach Notification Rule We can provide this attestation document upon request, subject to a mutual non-disclosure agreement (NDA) The document includes detailed findings from the assessment, our implemented safeguards, and confirmation of our Business Associate Agreement (BAA) readiness.

Example Response 2

Yes, we can provide HIPAA compliance documentation Our organization maintains HIPAA compliance through a comprehensive program that includes both internal and external validation We have completed a HITRUST CSF assessment which incorporates HIPAA requirements, and received certification on October 10, 2022 This certification verifies our compliance with HIPAA regulations as well as other relevant security frameworks Additionally, we conduct quarterly internal HIPAA compliance reviews We're happy to share our HITRUST certification and most recent internal assessment summary under appropriate confidentiality terms.

Example Response 3

No, we cannot currently provide a formal HIPAA compliance attestation document While our security program incorporates many controls that align with HIPAA requirements, we have not undergone a specific HIPAA assessment or certification process Our organization primarily serves clients outside the healthcare industry, so we haven't prioritized formal HIPAA attestation However, we do maintain SOC 2 Type II compliance which covers many overlapping security controls If HIPAA compliance is a requirement for your organization, we would need to evaluate whether we can implement the additional controls necessary and obtain appropriate attestation before handling any Protected Health Information (PHI).

Context

Tab: Case-Specific
Category: HIPAA Compliance