If your business handles sensitive patient information, you must follow strict rules to protect that data. These rules come from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Non-compliance can lead to fines, security breaches, or even lawsuits. So, how can you make sure your business stays compliant? If you’re using HighLevel, there are steps you can follow to ensure everything is secure.
This blog will give you a complete, easy-to-follow guide on how to use HighLevel while staying HIPAA-compliant. We’ll explain what HIPAA is, why it’s important, and how to use HighLevel’s special HIPAA features to protect your patient data.
HIPAA is a set of regulations in the United States that aims to protect sensitive health information. It applies to anyone who handles patient data, including healthcare providers, insurance companies, and even businesses that support these organisations.
Compliance with HIPAA isn’t optional. If your business violates HIPAA rules, you can face fines of up to millions of dollars, not to mention the potential loss of trust with your clients. Protecting patient privacy is at the core of HIPAA. These rules ensure that sensitive patient data (like medical records or payment history) is kept safe from unauthorised access.
HighLevel is a popular platform for managing client relationships, marketing, and communication. It’s used by many businesses because it’s user-friendly and versatile. With its marketing automation tools, calendar scheduling, and messaging features, HighLevel helps businesses stay organised and grow their client base.
Many healthcare providers use HighLevel because it offers tools to handle patient communication securely. The platform allows you to schedule appointments, send reminders, and communicate with patients, all while keeping sensitive data organised. Plus, it offers HIPAA-compliant features for those who need it.
By default, HighLevel is not HIPAA-compliant. However, HighLevel offers a HIPAA compliance package, which you can subscribe to for an additional fee. This upgrade ensures that the platform follows HIPAA regulations for protecting patient information, such as encryption and tracking user activity.
To meet HIPAA requirements, businesses must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with any third-party service provider handling sensitive health data. HighLevel offers a BAA when you subscribe to their HIPAA plan. This agreement ensures that HighLevel will protect patient information and follow HIPAA rules.
Let’s break down the process of becoming HIPAA-compliant with HighLevel into simple, actionable steps.
HIPAA requires that only authorised personnel can access patient data. Limiting access to those who need it can greatly reduce the risk of a breach.
In HighLevel, you can assign specific roles and permissions to users. For example, you can give only healthcare staff access to sensitive patient records while limiting access for administrative or marketing staff. This keeps data secure by ensuring that only the right people can view or edit patient information.
HighLevel’s regular package does not meet HIPAA standards. You must subscribe to their HIPAA compliance plan, which costs an additional $297 per month.
Navigate to the ‘Agency Dashboard’ in HighLevel and select the HIPAA compliance option. Once you subscribe, HighLevel will automatically implement security features such as encryption and audit logs.
Encryption is essential for protecting sensitive data. It ensures that if someone unauthorised tries to access the information, they won’t be able to read it without a special key.
With HighLevel’s HIPAA-compliant packages, encryption is already built into the system. All your patient data, whether stored or transmitted, is automatically encrypted. This means data is scrambled into code and can only be decoded by authorised parties.
HIPAA requires that you track who accesses or changes patient data. This creates a record, or "audit trail," which can be used to investigate any potential security issues.
In HighLevel, audit logs are automatically enabled for HIPAA-compliant accounts. These logs keep track of all actions taken on patient data, such as who viewed or edited it. Regularly reviewing these logs can help you identify any suspicious activity.
As employees come and go or change roles, it’s essential to update who has access to sensitive data. Failing to do this could leave your data exposed to unauthorised users.
Periodically review your user roles and permissions in HighLevel. Make sure only current staff with a legitimate need for access can view patient data. If an employee leaves or changes jobs, update their permissions right away.
Even with secure systems, human error can still lead to data breaches. Proper training helps prevent mistakes and ensures everyone understands how to handle sensitive data securely.
Educate your staff on HIPAA guidelines and how to use HighLevel securely. Make sure they understand how to manage patient information, avoid phishing attempts, and use encrypted communication tools.
Use Strong Passwords:
Always require strong, unique passwords for each user. Strong passwords make it much harder for unauthorised people to access your system.
Regular Software Updates:
Ensure that HighLevel is always updated to the latest version. Software updates often include important security fixes that protect your system from vulnerabilities.
Review Security Settings Regularly:
It’s essential to review your security settings periodically. Even if everything is set up correctly initially, you need to make sure that no changes or new threats compromise your data protection.
Review Regularly:
HIPAA compliance isn’t a one-time task. Review your settings and practices regularly to ensure continued compliance.
Work With a HIPAA Expert
If you’re unsure about any part of the process, consider consulting a HIPAA expert. They can help you audit your system and make sure you’re following all the necessary rules.
Using HighLevel to handle patient data can be safe and secure if you follow the right steps. From subscribing to HighLevel’s HIPAA plan to setting up user permissions and training your team, each action helps ensure that you stay compliant.
If you’re using HighLevel for patient data, make sure you subscribe to their HIPAA compliance plan today. Protecting patient information is not just a requirement; it’s your responsibility.
https://help.gohighlevel.com/support/solutions/articles/48000983084-hipaa-compliance-with-highlevel