CubeSmart, Inc. HIPAA Compliance Statement:

ARTICLES:

Source: Washington Business Journal
Title: New health privacy regs add to HR's responsibilities
Author: Chris Silva Staff reporter

CubeSmart is committed to complying with the HIPAA Regulations and ensuring that our products meet HIPAA compliance standards. Additionally, CubeSmart is committed to assisting our clients with their requirements for achieving a fully HIPAA compliant work environment.

What is HIPAA?

HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which amends the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986. It is the Administrative Simplification section of this act that has a more pervasive effect on health plans, billing agencies, information systems vendors, and other providers. Within the provisions in this section, HIPAA requires improved efficiency in healthcare delivery by standardizing electronic data interchange (EDI) and protection of confidentiality and security of health data through setting and enforcing standards. More specifically, HIPAA calls for:

• Security and Privacy standards protecting the confidentiality and integrity of "individually identifiable health information," past, present or future. (e.g. Confidentiality of medical related information, encryption of data during transmission, Authentication and Verification of the sender and receiver).
• Standardization of electronic patient health, administrative and financial data, (e.g. Adoption of standard transaction formats developed by ANSI, and Standard Code Sets such as ICD-9)
• Unique health identifiers for individuals, employers, health plans and health care providers

Who is affected by HIPAA?

The Act specifies the following as "covered entities":

• Health Care Providers
• Health Plan
• Health Care Clearinghouses

Patient Confidentiality and Security Measures

CubeSmart recognizes that security of personal medical record information is of great concern to both patients and providers in the health care industry. To address these concerns, CubeSmart offers a portable, retractable cubicle door which provide privacy for medical offices as described below:

• Handling and processing patient data (such as medical records, health plans, etc.)
• Collecting patient information for health care admittance
• Patient / health care provider consultations (including pharmacists, medical insurance, and medical financial assistance)

CubeSmart and HIPAA

CubeSmart is committed to helping our clients in their efforts to complying with the regulations and in ensuring that their office environment meets HIPAA compliance by the due date, April 14th, 2003. Should you wish for more information or clarification on any HIPAA related issues that involve CubeSmart® CubeDoors, please do not hesitate to contact our client services office directly at: (817) 690-6000, or via email at: info@cubesmart.biz

Helpful links for additional information on HIPAA regulations:

• United States Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Office for Civil Right (OCR) – HIPAA -- Medical Privacy – National Standards to Protect the Privacy of Personal Health Information: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/whatsnew.html
• Final Modifications to the Privacy Rule, Federal Register, August 14, 2002 http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/privrulepd.pdf
• HIPAA readiness checklist implementation guides: http://www.hipaa.org