How to Achieve HIPAA Training and Certification
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which governs the privacy of an individual's medical records. Employees of businesses that may come into contact with records covered by HIPAA are required to undergo specific training and certification on how to handle those records, and they can be held accountable for violations of the act.
HIPAA training is mandatory for any employee that has access to patient data. This can include, but is not limited to, physicians, psychologists, researchers, dentists, nurses, opticians, insurance specialists, human resources officers and all employees who have access or manage personal data.
Convenient and comprehensive HIPAA certification is accessible through several places online. Once you find a someone that can help you become HIPPA certified, an employee will find four different training and certification formats. These formats are catered towards each employee’s training needs and include the following: Instructor Led Classroom HIPAA Training, Instructor LedOnline Classroom HIPAA Training, Customized Onsite HIPAA Training, and Online Anytime HIPAA Certification Training.
Instructor Led Classroom HIPAA Training offers courses across the United States at multiple locations in order to allow ease and convenience. This option offers two day and four day in-class HIPAA training and certification.
Instructor Led Online Classroom HIPAA Training uses the benefits of real-time distance learning over the Internet to create the optimal learning experience. This format allows the employee a more personalized training approach through flexible course content and training time.
Customized Onsite HIPAA Training allows for groups, three or more, to train onsite at their facility. This format allows for custom HIPAA training specifically designed for the company’s HIPAA requirements.
Online Anytime HIPAA Certification Training involves training and exams for the following HIPAA certifications:
Certified HIPAA Privacy Security Expert (CHPSE)
Certified HIPAA Security Expert (CHSE)
Certified HIPAA Privacy Expert (CHPE)
Certified HIPAA Privacy Associate (CHPA)
Each certification involves a higher level of training and expertise. This format allows the employee to choose which HIPAA certification is needed and then begin the online training material. Upon course completion, the employee takes the test corresponding to the specific HIPAA certification.
Employees need to obtain HIPAA training and HIPAA certification in order to know that they can release a patient's information in four instances: for medical treatment and care, to allow for payment of services, for operational needs (including education and reviews) and if a patient requests the information.
Employees should be trained that there are significant penalties that they can be subject to for violating HIPAA. Violations of patient privacy is a federal crime punishable by up to $100 per each inadvertent offense--up to $25,000 in a year (for each requirement violated). Knowingly obtaining or disclosing PHI can result in a one-year prison sentence and $50,000 fine. Larger fines and jail time can be handed out for larger offenses. According to the Indian Health Service, there are fines of "up to $250,000 and 10 years imprisonment if done with intent to sell, transfer, or use for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm." This is a federal crime, enforced by Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice.
