Developing Software with HIPAA Compliance: Best Practices and Challenges

Health information technology (HIT) is a critical component of healthcare, and it’s growing more important every day. Electronic health records (EHRs) are now an essential tool for doctors and nurses as well as insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and other stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem.

But while the benefits of HIT are clear—more efficient treatment and better care outcomes—the potential risks of this technology have also become increasingly apparent. With so much personal data being transferred across networks, there is more than ever at stake if it’s not handled properly. A single breach could cost millions or even billions of dollars in fines from regulators; worse yet: if patient information gets into the wrong hands, this could lead to identity theft or worse!

The Challenges of Developing Software with HIPAA Compliance in Mind

Developing software is hard. When you add HIPAA compliance to the mix, it becomes even more challenging. The challenges of developing software with HIPAA compliance in mind are many and varied, but there are some best practices that can help you get started on the right foot.

There are ways to build compliant software, even if it’s difficult.

It is possible to build compliant software, but it takes a lot of extra effort and money. The costs are not just monetary; they also include time spent on building the compliance features and testing them. Some companies may find that the cost of compliance is too high for them to bear.

What Is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed by Congress in 1996 and revised in 2002, 2013, and most recently in 2016. It’s a federal law that protects the privacy of patient health information. HIPAA rules apply to healthcare providers and their business associates–anyone who transmits or receives electronic health records for another person or entity (including software developers!).

HIPAA applies to all types of electronic health records, including those created with paper documents scanned into an electronic system; this includes applications written specifically for healthcare providers as well as off-the-shelf products purchased from vendors like Microsoft or Salesforce.com which contain functionality built around those systems

How Does HIPAA Affect Software Developers?

As a software developer, you may be wondering how HIPAA affects your work.

HIPAA is a set of rules that govern how healthcare providers and insurers use and share patient information. It also applies to any other organization that transmits electronic health data. If you’re involved in developing healthcare systems, then it’s important for you to understand HIPAA so that you can take steps towards compliance.

Developing Software with HIPAA Compliance as a Priority

HIPAA compliance is not a choice, but a requirement. Developers need to understand the HIPAA regulations and have a plan for HIPAA compliance.

Developers who build software with HIPAA compliance as a priority will be able to deliver products that meet regulatory requirements and protect sensitive patient data with confidence.

Is it Possible to Be Compliant While Developing Software?

Yes, it is possible to be compliant while developing software. However, it is not impossible. It can be hard, challenging and even difficult at times.

You might wonder how that’s possible when HIPAA compliance seems like such a big deal for healthcare organizations these days. How can we possibly do everything we need to do when our budgets are tight and our resources limited? The good news is that there are ways around this issue — and they aren’t all that complicated either!

Conclusion

HIPAA is a complex and difficult law to understand, let alone comply with. It’s important that you know what you’re getting into before you start developing software with HIPAA compliance in mind. But don’t let this discourage you! There are many ways to build compliant software despite the challenges involved in doing so–and we hope this post has given some insight into how those processes might look like for your specific project.