Want to know a quick way to receive a $50,000 fine (or more) for your business? It’s easy; don’t take the necessary steps to eliminate confidential client information, and wait to see what happens.
This is not a step-by-step guide for how to close up shop, mind you, but rather a warning as to what could happen if your firm is not doing everything in its power to handle records.
Passed into law in 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) set forth new standards companies are required to meet concerning transactions which pertain to patient medical records.
Thus, small business owners that have any form of contact with such documents should take note of the consequences of not doing so. That $50,000 fine is not just some made up figure to scare companies into compliance, as one small healthcare company in Idaho found out recently this year.
A lot of companies are not taking HIPAA as seriously as they should, and it is only a matter of time before violators are caught. The federal government takes these matters very seriously and is clearly quick to issue hefty fines in this regard. Here are some tips for ensuring every file you process is securely protected.
HIPAA is not just something large corporations need to be aware of, as it affects all companies. Don’t get into trouble by making a simple mistake. Contact Shred America today to make sure your company is compliant.