HIPAA Compliance in India
Outsourcing services to India is extremely popular after the liberalization of India’s economy. This applies to Healthcare and Life Sciences domains too since outsourcing of such domains to India is constantly on the rise, cost-effective and extremely popular amongst American companies.
However, serious concerns and doubts are being voiced regarding data security and strict adherence to standard quality procedures. The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) has been widely acknowledged as the norm for healthcare products and services. Indian companies are well versed with the HIPAA Act and guidelines issued by other regulatory bodies across the globe.
Outsourcing Healthcare to India - HIPAA Compliance
Outsourcing of healthcare services to India, such as medical transcription, medical billing medical coding and medico-legal services involves the transfer and maintenance of important data accompanied with ever-pervading risks. Obviously it is a matter of serious concern for organizations that outsource their activities to India - especially activities related to healthcare products and services ensuring that vendors are constantly complying with international standards.
The medical coders are professional, skilled individuals who are well-versed in international coding practices. Most coders are AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) certified. Membership and subscription to medical coding bodies such as AAPC and AHIMA ensure that medical coders in India are being constantly updated in their knowledge and skills pertaining to healthcare.
Staff Training and Education regarding HIPAA
- Awareness programs for all employees including the employers of that organization
- Continuous ongoing training and testing programs that links HIPAA education to staff rewards to upgrade their knowledge and skills
- HIPAA resource directory that keeps employees updated on various issues pertaining to regulations, news and events
- Transaction Standards
There is a dedicated team of professional software programmers who are continuously developing HIPAA compliant transactions as per the defined norms and standards. Concepts pertaining to patient confidentiality and maintaining privacy of medical records are well understood by the professionals involved in HIPAA compliant systems and processes. It is a well known fact that HIPAA constantly upgrades and effects changes for better efficiency or discards certain practices in case they are found outdated or useless. Indian healthcare organizations who are in the race for excellence always make sure that they are aware about such changes and remain in-tune with such ever-changing and ever-evolving HIPAA processes and standards. Thus, it ensures that all information/data in the databases remain secured with continuous adherence to highest quality standards.
