HIPAA requirements for healthcare providers include complying with the HIPAA Privacy Rule use and disclosure standards and individual rights, implementing the HIPAA Security Rule safeguards for electronic protected health information, meeting the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule incident assessment and notification duties, applying the HIPAA Minimum Necessary Rule when it applies, and executing business associate agreements with vendors that create, receive, maintain, or transmit protected health information on the provider’s behalf. These requirements apply to providers that are HIPAA Covered Entities, including providers that transmit health information in electronic form in connection with covered transactions.
Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, providers limit uses and disclosures of protected health information to permitted categories or valid authorizations and maintain a Notice of Privacy Practices that describes permitted uses, disclosures, and individual rights. Providers implement procedures for patient access to records, amendments, restrictions in limited circumstances, confidential communications, and accounting of disclosures when required. Workforce training, role-based access rules, disclosure tracking where applicable, and reasonable safeguards that limit incidental disclosures support day-to-day compliance in clinical and administrative operations.
Under the HIPAA Security Rule, providers implement administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, and technical safeguards for electronic protected health information. Administrative safeguards include risk analysis and risk management, workforce security, information access management, security awareness and training, incident procedures, contingency planning, and evaluation. Physical safeguards include facility access controls, workstation use and security, and device and media controls. Technical safeguards include access controls such as unique user identification, audit controls, integrity protections, person or entity authentication, and transmission security measures that protect electronic protected health information when it is sent across networks.
Under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, providers assess impermissible uses or disclosures of unsecured protected health information and provide required notifications to affected individuals and the Department of Health and Human Services, and to media outlets when a reportable breach meets the jurisdictional threshold. Providers also manage business associate compliance by entering business associate agreements, monitoring vendor access to protected health information, and requiring incident reporting and cooperation for investigations and mitigation. Documentation retention supports compliance verification during internal reviews and HHS Office for Civil Rights investigations.