One of the most common questions we get related to our service is “Is your fax service HIPAA compliant?” That’s a great question with no easy answer. I think the better question to ask is “Is my practice compliant?” In order to answer this, it’s important to understand what exactly HIPAA compliance means, who governs it, and how that translates to choosing products and services, including an appropriate internet fax solution.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is actually broken up into 3 Rules:

• HIPAA Privacy Rule – This protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information

• HIPAA Security Rule – This helps set national standards regarding the security of electronic protected health information.

• HIPAA Breach Notification Rule – Requires covered entities and business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured protected health information.

To read more about these rules please visit the US Department of Health and Human services site.

So to be HIPAA “compliant”, you have to understand these rules and how to implement best practices regarding anyone who comes into contact with patient sensitive information (ePHI) as well as deploy products and services that will help accomplish this. A good overall strategy will include administrative, physical, and technical (that’s us!) safeguards.

I see a lot of services out there with HIPAA compliant badges and claims. Something to keep in mind is there is no product out there that will instantly make you HIPAA compliant. Those badges are not given out by the government. These rules are enforced by the Office for Civil Rights and breach of these rules can result in some serious civil and even criminal penalties. So you don’t want to make any assumptions when it comes to adherence to these rules. To see the full list of fines and penalties click HERE

So when a company touting a product or service is telling you they are HIPAA compliant, you should only take that to mean they know what HIPAA is and their solution has security measures to help address that. You should still find out more about these features to A. make sure they are up to date with the latest standards (HIPAA rules are constantly changing with evolving technology) and B. the solution fits well with your overall approach to address these issues.

You also want to ask if they are willing to sign a BAA (Business Associate Agreement). This is a simple document that puts down in writing the companies accountability to maintain certain security standards related to safeguarding of sensitive data.

So back to the main question, which has hopefully changed from “Is your service HIPAA compliant?” to “What does Documo do to help with my security strategy for HIPAA?”

We take the security seriously and love servicing customers in the healthcare industry. Our internet fax solution is built with HIPAA compliance in mind and we have several security safeguards in place to maintain the integrity of your data and our network. Some of these features include:

• Encrypted document exchange

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol

• User authentication

• Server management security. Our employees do not have direct access to production equipment and all servers are hoursed in state-of-the-art data centers with 24/7 security.

• Application servers, web servers, networking components, and SSL accelerators are configured to maximize uptime and reliability.

• Data is securely backed up on a regular basis

• Documo employs advanced perimeter defense. Our network perimeter is protected by multiple firewalls and is monitored by intrusion detection systems at all times. We choose our vendors for these products carefully and only go with industry-leading solutions.

This list only highlights some of the things we do to address security for our customers. This is not an exhaustive list of security features. We are constantly improving and updating our infrastructure and making sure we are up to date with the latest in security measures and technological advancements.

Hopefully that helps answer some questions regarding HIPAA and our solution. If you have more questions or would like to provide us any feedback or suggestions, please Contact Us! We’d love to hear from you!

Introduction

In today’s digital age, online faxing has become an essential tool for businesses and individuals alike. With the rise of cloud-based services, it’s easier than ever to send and receive faxes online. However, for industries that handle sensitive information, such as healthcare, it’s crucial to ensure that online faxing services meet the necessary security and compliance standards. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of HIPAA compliance in online faxing and how Documo provides a secure and reliable solution. Documo eliminates the need for traditional analog fax machines, promoting cost savings and enhanced security. Additionally, it eliminates the necessity of an analog phone line exclusively for fax machine operations, further reducing costs and improving efficiency.

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that sets standards for the handling of sensitive patient information. HIPAA requires healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other covered entities to implement robust security measures to protect electronic protected health information (ePHI). This includes ensuring that all electronic transmissions of ePHI, including online faxing, are secure and compliant with HIPAA regulations.

What is Documo?

Documo is a cloud-based online fax service that enables users to send and receive faxes electronically, eliminating the need for traditional fax machines and analog phone lines. As the best online fax service, Documo offers a secure, reliable, and efficient way to manage faxing, making it an ideal solution for businesses and individuals looking to streamline their paperless document workflow. By leveraging the power of the cloud, Documo ensures that your faxing needs are met with unparalleled convenience and security, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your business.

HIPAA Compliance in the Cloud with Extensive API Documentation

Cloud-based services, including online faxing, must meet the same HIPAA compliance standards as traditional on-premise solutions. This means that cloud fax providers must implement robust security measures, such as encryption, access controls, and audit logs, to protect ePHI. Additionally, cloud fax providers must ensure that their services are designed and implemented in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.

Features and Functionality

Documo offers a range of features and functionality that make it an industry-leading online fax service. Some of its key features include:

• Fax Print Driver: Users simply print their documents to the Documo print driver to send faxes directly from their desktop applications, making the process seamless and efficient.

• Extensive API Documentation: Documo provides developers with the tools they need to integrate fax functionality into their applications, offering extensive API documentation to ensure smooth integration.

• Cloud Fax: With Documo, users can send and receive faxes from anywhere, at any time, leveraging the flexibility and accessibility of cloud fax technology.

• Multiple Fax Numbers: Manage multiple fax numbers from a single account, making it easy to organize and streamline your faxing activities.

• Fax Delivery: Documo ensures that faxes are delivered quickly and reliably, providing peace of mind that your important documents will reach their destination.

• Central Control Panel: The centralized platform allows users to manage their faxing activity from a single interface, providing a comprehensive overview and control over all faxing operations.

Secure Online Fax Service with Documo

Documo is a leading online fax service that provides secure and reliable faxing solutions for businesses and individuals. With Documo, users can send and receive faxes online, using a variety of methods, including email, web portal, and API integration. Documo offers extensive API documentation, making it easy for developers to integrate fax functionality into their applications. Additionally, Documo provides unparalleled fax reliability, ensuring that faxes are delivered quickly and securely.

Benefits of HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Faxing for Paperless Document Workflow

HIPAA-compliant cloud faxing offers numerous benefits for healthcare providers and other covered entities. These benefits include:

• Improved security: Cloud faxing provides an additional layer of security, ensuring that ePHI is protected from unauthorized access.

• Increased efficiency: Cloud faxing automates the faxing process, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing the risk of errors.

• Cost savings: Cloud faxing eliminates the need for traditional fax machines and analog phone lines, reducing costs and improving productivity.

• Scalability: Cloud faxing solutions can be easily scaled up or down to meet the needs of growing businesses.

• Compliance: HIPAA-compliant cloud faxing ensures that businesses meet the necessary regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of fines and penalties.

By choosing a HIPAA-compliant cloud faxing solution like Documo, businesses can ensure that their online faxing needs are met while maintaining the highest level of security and compliance.

Pricing and Plans

Documo offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs and budgets. The company offers monthly subscriptions that include a set number of fax pages, with additional pages available at a low cost. These pricing plans are designed to be flexible and scalable, making it easy for businesses to manage their faxing costs. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, Documo has a plan that will fit your needs and help you stay within budget.

Getting Started with Documo

Getting started with Documo is easy. Simply sign up for an account, download and install the fax print driver, and start sending faxes. Users can also integrate Documo with their existing applications using the extensive API documentation provided. With Documo, you can manage faxing from a central control panel, making it easy to track and monitor fax activity. The intuitive interface and user-friendly setup ensure that you can start faxing with minimal effort and maximum efficiency.

Support and Resources

Documo offers a range of support and resources to help users get the most out of their online fax service. The company provides extensive API documentation, as well as a range of tutorials and guides to help users get started. Additionally, Documo offers unparalleled fax reliability, ensuring that faxes are delivered quickly and reliably. The company also offers multiple user accounts, making it easy for businesses to manage their faxing activity. With Documo, you have access to all the tools and support you need to ensure a smooth and efficient faxing experience.