NCQA, JCAHO sign letter of intent to discuss collaborating on privacy certification program for business associates
HIPAA Weekly Advisor, March 13, 2003
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Business associates may soon be able to certify their HIPAA privacy compliance programs with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
NCQA and JCAHO March 13 said they may collaborate on a privacy certification program for business associates.
The planned program would evaluate applicant business associates to determine whether they meet standards for safeguarding PHI based on the HIPAA privacy regulations. Any business associate that handles PHI for health plans, providers, or health care clearinghouses would be eligible for the program.
NCQA released draft standards for a privacy certification program in December 2002, and JCAHO served on the advisory committee that developed those standards. The final standards for the program, scheduled for release in mid- May, will track closely with the final HIPAA privacy regulations. Program requirements will relate to
- privacy protections for oral, written, and electronic PHI
- processes and practices for the storage, use, and disclosure of PHI
- employee training in PHI protections
- consumer access to PHI
- contracting between covered entities and their business associates
Go to http://www.ncqa.org/communications/news/pcba-loi.htm to read more.
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