"You can't have information privacy without information security". If any unauthorized employees or persons can gain access to protected health information at will, you are inviting trouble!!

HIPAA Security rule, which was finalized in Feb 2003, became effective Mar 2003. Most organizations will be required to be in compliance with the rule by Mar 2005.

This is plenty of time, if you start now. Be in the planning stages of your HIPAA Security implementation within a matter of weeks or months. Don't wait until Feb of 2005 and expect things to work when you drop this bombshell on your IT staff.

HIPAA requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health plans, and employers.

It is up to you as the health care provider to see to it that your transactions are being conducted in compliance with HIPAA Privacy protection rule, whether or not you contract a third party biller or clearinghouse to conduct any of these transactions for you.

We at Avanti, have highly skilled staff specialized in HIPAA compliance training and advice. We also address the security and privacy of health data. Adopting these standards will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Practice's health care system by encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange.

We can help you meet your deadlines for the compliance and also upgrade your software and hardware as required by HIPAA. Our HIPAA Consultant will be able to help you and your practice with the following:

• Educate you and your staff on the basics of HIPAA law.

• Determine whether you are a covered entity under HIPAA

• Review your business operations and the HIPAA Electronic Transactions & Code Sets.

• Test your office operations and insure that you or those who electronically process claims on your behalf have a testing plan in place.

• Re-structure the office with the correct set of HIPAA Compliant forms used daily.