Most Hospitals Not Prepared For Hipaa - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - Brief Article

Healthcare Financial Management, May, 2001

A survey by the AHA Financial Solutions Inc., Chicago, Illinois, found that fewer than half the hospitals surveyed have taken any major steps required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security rules. According to the March 27 AHA News Now, only 37 percent of the respondents have designated a security officer, 47 percent have set up a HIPAA committee, and 12 percent have a HIPAA implementation plan.

In addition, 10 percent have ranked HIPAA as a low priority for 2001, and 24 percent have ranked HIPAA as a moderate priority for 2001. The survey also found 39 percent have ranked HIPAA as a high priority for 2001, 45 percent will look for outside assistance on HIPAA, 27 percent will not look for outside assistance on HIPAA, and 18 percent have conducted a cost-impact analysis on HIPAA.