Health Information Management

DSS Research among first to apply for JCAHO/NCQA privacy certification

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, August 22, 2003

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The nation's largest health care-focused market research group, DSS Research, recently announced that it is among the first health care organizations to apply for certification under the new privacy certification program for business associates launched by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

The program is designed to assess whether business associates are meeting the privacy rule's requirements for safeguarding PHI, and its standards address the following:

  • 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

Organizations seeking JCAHO/NCQA certification will first use a Web-based tool to assess their compliance with the program standards. Once the requested materials have been submitted, a survey team will conduct an onsite review of the organization, leading to a pass/fail decision. "Pass" results will be valid for two years. Any business associates that handle PHI for health care providers, health plans, or health care clearinghouses are eligible for the program.

DSS Research was among the first of eight organizations to apply for certification. The firm expects to begin the certification process this month.

Go to http://www.jcaho.org/news+room/news+release+archives/bap_6_16.htm to learn more about the certification program.



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