February 2024

2024 Tampa Bay Business Journal Best Places to Work

Abyde Recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024

February 29, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 29, 2024 Clearwater, FL (February 29, 2024) – Abyde, a leading provider of healthcare compliance solutions, is thrilled to announce it has been named a Top Workplace for 2024 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. This prestigious award recognizes companies in the Tampa Bay area with exceptional workplace cultures, fostering employee engagement and satisfaction. As a local company, Abyde is especially proud of this recognition, highlighting its commitment to creating a positive and thriving work environment for its team. This award comes on the heels of Abyde being named a Best Place to Work in 2023 by the same organization. “Being named a Top Workplace two years in a row is an incredible honor and a testament to our dedication to our employees,” said Matt DiBlasi, CEO and Co-Founder of Abyde. “Our vision of enriching lives so that impactful legacies are left for the generations to come is crucial to our success. This award is a reflection of the positive and collaborative culture we’ve built together.” The Top Workplaces award is based on confidential employee surveys conducted by Quantum Workplace, a research-backed employee engagement technology company. The survey assesses various aspects of workplace culture, including leadership, communication, career opportunities, and work-life balance. Abyde’s strong performance in these areas contributed significantly to their recognition as a Top Workplace. “This award is a valuable recognition for Abyde and further validates our position as an employer of choice in the Tampa Bay area,” concluded DiBlasi. “We are committed to continuously improving our work environment and attracting top talent to join our growing team.” About Abyde Abyde is a leading provider of healthcare compliance solutions, dedicated to simplifying compliance for healthcare practices and organizations nationwide. Their intuitive software and expert guidance empower organizations to confidently navigate complex regulations and maintain compliance with HIPAA and OSHA. Contact: Penelope Schweitzer Creative Marketing & Design Specialist pschweitzer@abyde.com

Best Practices, HIPAA

Make the Most of Your Extra Day: The First Step of Compliance

February 29, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 29, 2024 Happy Leap Day! With the extra 24 hours, what do you plan to do? First, if you haven’t, remember to report your small breaches to the OCR today, but what else? I know you might say do nothing and sit on the couch later, and while that sounds great, we have some better ideas for you. We at Abyde believe in self-improvement and betterment, appreciating every day and making an impact. This once-in-every-four-year occasion is an opportunity to do something new and start a task you’ve been putting off. For many, this could be compliance. Compliance software is key, knowing your practice is prepared if used correctly. Investing in compliance software is a small cost compared to how expensive violations can be, with the smallest HIPAA fines costing $137 and the least expensive OSHA fines costing $1190. While perfect compliance can’t be achieved in one day (if it could, we wouldn’t be here!), by taking the first step today and using Abyde’s software, compliance is easily within your reach, with us simplifying the process and being with you every step of the way. Compliance is a continuous process, but it requires the first step to build that culture of compliance for your practice or organization. A culture of compliance takes time, training your staff, having all understand the importance of compliance, the precautionary measures that need to be taken to secure Protected Health Information (PHI), and ensuring a safe working environment for all. We at Abyde know how precious your time is, so we offer quick 15 to 20-minute demos and consultations. Additionally, Abyde prides itself on how we make the compliance process efficient and fun. Complete the once daunting Security Risk Analysis, or SRA, in minutes with our intuitive and simple questions. Drastically cut down on time with our dynamically generated Policies & Procedures, having custom documentation created for you in seconds. Learn from our numerous resources in the software on what it means to be compliant. If you have any questions, experience white-glove service from our team of compliance experts, only a short call or message away. While an extra day might feel insignificant, all it takes is that first step on the journey to compliance. We hope you enjoy your extra day, and make that first step by scheduling a short demo or consultation (Business Associates, click here, please!) with our experts today. If you still have questions, email us at info@abyde.com, or call 1.800.594.0883.

HIPAA, Legislation

What You Need to Know: Major Changes to 42 CFR Part 2

February 28, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 28, 2024 For practices offering treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD), some major compliance changes have been rolled out. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or the much easier-to-remember SAMHSA, and the Office of Civil Rights, or OCR, have announced changes to 42 CFR Part 2. 42 CFR Part 2 is a document that rules how substance use disorder patient records need to be handled. Some major changes include: One OK: A single consent is valid for all future uses, forgoing repeated permissions and simplifying the process for your practice. Sharing with Care: Information about a patient can be shared with public health authorities without specific consent. However, the documents need to be revised to make the patient anonymous. Enforcement Streamlined: Previously, 42 CFR Part 2 had separate penalties. Now, it adopts the same civil and criminal enforcement as HIPAA violations, ensuring consistency and clear expectations. Breach Notification and Patient Notice: Will follow the same Breach Notification Rule and Patient Notice of Privacy Practices as standard HIPAA requirements. Safe Harbor: The Safe Harbor rule in the 42 CFR Part 2 creates a limit on the liabilities investigative agencies that follow proper procedures can face. So, simply put, if an investigative agency has accessed protected health information about someone in substance abuse treatment by following the proper procedures, they will be protected. What this means for your Practice If you work for a practice that offers treatment for substance use disorder, knowing the changes to this legislation is imperative. With Abyde, we’re here for you to simplify compliance, with our revolutionary software keeping you up to date and accountable. Review your organization’s risks and vulnerabilities with our variety of resources, including our state-of-the-art Security Risk Analysis (SRA) which can be completed in minutes. To learn more about how your practice can be compliant, email us at info@abyde.com and schedule a consultation today.

Best Practices, OSHA

Keeping Your Team Safe: A Guide to the OSHA Form 300A for Healthcare Facilities

February 27, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 27, 2024 Hi! Your friends here at Abyde just wanted to remind you that the OSHA Form 300A deadline is quickly approaching. The due date for reporting this is March 2nd, 2024. While reporting this vital information might not be the most exciting thing to do with your time, we’re here to make it easy. What is the OSHA Form 300A? The OSHA Form 300A is the yearly report of the injuries and illnesses from the previous year. For most, the Form 300A is the only OSHA form required to be submitted by this due date. This form does not include any personal information from the incidents, just an overall year summary. This document is a crucial tool for organizations to keep their employees safe, documenting safety hazards and preventing future accidents. Is there a more detailed form? Why yes, there is! The OSHA Form 300 is an expanded version of the OSHA Form 300A. The OSHA Form 300 includes personal information, the number of days out, what happened, and more. The OSHA Form 301 has even more specific questions on what happened and the steps taken, including the physician who treated the employee. Both the OSHA Form 300 and 301 have to be updated within 7 days of an incident. These more detailed forms also have to be submitted if you work for a major practice of more than 250 employees or over 100, if you work in a high-hazard industry. Also, OSHA Form 300, 300A, and 301 need to be stored for at least 5 years. How can I fill out the OSHA Form 300A? Well, we are one step ahead of you. With Abyde’s revolutionary OSHA software, log the incident by clicking the Safety & Health Logs section in your dashboard. Once clicking that, choose the type of incident (we require a little more information if it’s a sharps injury), and fill out the required information. Our software log questions model the Form 300 document, so, at the end of the year, you can download a dynamically generated Form 300A, saving the work for you. How do I report this to OSHA? The process is easy. You can report your OSHA 300A form online here. With the Abyde software, we have the OSHA Form 300A completed for you, you can breeze through this requirement, by just putting it into the online form. OSHA also created a video tutorial. How can Abyde help? As you can see, Abyde dramatically simplifies the reporting process, creating a 300A form for you. Just make sure you properly log any workplace injuries or illnesses in the software! While Abyde can’t directly submit the form for your practice, we are more than happy to help you if you have any questions. Current Abyde users can call us at 1.800.594.0883 or chat in our live support option in the software and we will be more than happy to help! To learn more about simplifying OSHA for your practice, send us an email at info@abyde.com or schedule a compliance consultation here.

Cybersecurity, HIPAA

Change Healthcare Breach: A Long Road Ahead

February 26, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

April 26, 2024 It’s Friday! It’s time to unwind and not think about work for a few days… except for the Change Healthcare breach, that party’s not over. Let’s get you caught up. As we’ve kept you updated with the latest updates in the Change Healthcare Breach on the blog and our social media with our This Week in Compliance (TWIC) series, there have been some significant updates in this compliance catastrophe. Accompanied by our This Week in Compliance (TWIC) video, let’s dive into the latest on Change Healthcare breach. Double Trouble Sometimes, two isn’t better than one. Change Healthcare received a double scoop of trouble, and, unlike a sundae with delicious hot fudge, this came with two servings of ransom demands! Change Healthcare is no stranger to ransom demands, paying $22 million in Bitcoin to the BlackCat hacking group. This is just the beginning of the story. Another hacking group, RansomHub, announced they had several terabytes of Protected Health Information (PHI). For some perspective, here’s a simple explanation. A terabyte contains over 5 million document pages! Think about how many patients a leak of that information could impact! At first, there was skepticism about whether these RansomHub bullies truly had access to the information, bluffing for a ransom payment. Unfortunately, RansomHub does have this PHI, sharing over 20 victims’ health information to prove a point. While we don’t know how much it is, we’re willing to bet it’s much more than an Abyde subscription. Pretty Penny for PHI This breach is costing the UnitedHealth Group over a billion dollars! These costs impact not only the medical giant but all of the practices and hospitals that rely on the organization to process prescriptions. According to the American Hospital Association, 94% of all hospitals report financial impact, with 33% costing the hospitals more than half of their revenue! In addition to the monetary costs of the attack, the UnitedHealth group has to repair its shattered reputation. The UnitedHealth Group is currently caught in the crosshairs of national-level legal proceedings, with Congress beginning hearings on the attack. Shockingly, UnitedHealth Group was not in attendance, but the CEO, Andrew Witty, is due for an appearance at the beginning of May. What’s next? This breach is a serious reminder that no matter how big, or small, your practice is, data breaches can happen to anyone. It’s important to stay proactive and address your vulnerabilities to protect PHI. As we continue to discover the extent of the attack, even if your practice didn’t cause the breach, Covered Entities must notify affected patients according to the Breach Notification Rule. For our Abyde users, check out the What’s New section for guidance on notifying your patients. The HHS also has a FAQ section on its website regarding the breach. To learn more about how to keep your practice safe, schedule a consultation with a compliance expert here.

Audits, HIPAA

Leap into Action: Important Data Breach Reporting Deadline Approaches

February 26, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 26, 2024 Happy Leap Year! Now, let’s celebrate the once-in-every-four-years event with the most exhilarating and entertaining activity: notifying the OCR of small breaches your practice faced in 2023. Alright, I’m kidding I’m kidding, while reporting these breaches might not be the most exciting activity, it is very important to notify the OCR of these breaches to ensure proper procedure was followed when things didn’t go as planned. This notification to the OCR is due 60 days after the end of the following year, according to the Breach Notification Rule. So, for 2024, it will be February 29th or Leap Day. So, what is a small breach? You might be asking, what constitutes a small breach? Thankfully, the OCR has specified this for us, and it’s any breach that affects 500 or fewer patients. Anything more than this requires faster reporting, needing to notify the OCR of the breach within 60 days of the discovery of the breach. While smaller breaches don’t need to be reported to the OCR as quickly, patients must be aware of their data being affected in a breach, and patients must be notified within 60 days of the practice finding the breach, or even sooner depending on the state. So, how do I report my small breaches to the OCR? Another great question! Once again, the OCR has a reporting system in place online here. Each small breach has to be reported separately through the website. Abyde makes breach reporting easy, with our HIPAA breach logs, which will allow you to log when you experience a breach in your software. After filling out the breach log, we have a Breach Risk Assessment for you to take, and will then generate a report with all the information you need for the OCR breach report. If you want some help filling out the breach report, you can turn to us, your compliance crew. For Abyde users, call us at 1-800-594-0883 or hit the Help! Alarm button under the gear icon in your Abyde software. We’ll get connected with you immediately and help you navigate the breach. Then, just make sure you notify the OCR by the due date for those smaller breaches! So, what else do I need to do? I’m glad that you’re still interested! Having assigned roles when breaches occur. The reporting of breaches usually falls under the HIPAA Compliance Officer’s list of responsibilities. Having a designated HIPAA Compliance Officer, and in general, having assigned roles in order when a breach or disaster occurs ensures accountability. So, what now? Make sure that you have all of your small breaches reported to the OCR by February 29th, 2024. Abyde is here to make this process easy with our easy-to-use software. To learn more about how Abyde simplifies compliance, reach out to info@abyde.com or schedule a demo here.

Audits, Cybersecurity, HIPAA

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: HIPAA Audits are Back!

February 23, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 23, 2024 They’re Baaaaaack! And in this case, not the poltergeists in the 80s classic, but the Office For Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR shared some significant news, announcing their plans to reintroduce their random HIPAA audits program. The last time this program was in place was in 2016 – 2017, with over 200 Covered Entities and Business Associates audited to ensure HIPAA compliance. Before this program is officially implemented again, the OCR is surveying past audit participants, and hearing their feedback before random audits begin. However, Director of the OCR, Melanie Fontes Rainer, confirmed the audits would resume this year, “OCR intends to initiate audits of HIPAA-regulated entities later this year. These audits can assist regulated entities in improving their HIPAA compliance and their protection of health information.” The audits revealed eye-opening shortcomings of CEs and BAs, with Paul Hales of Hales Group describing that “86% of covered entities and 83% of business associates failed the risk analysis audit, and 94% of CEs and 88% of BAs failed the risk management audit”. Thankfully, this news doesn’t have to be like a horror movie if you’re proactive and take compliance seriously. What does this mean for you? While random HIPAA audits might seem very nerve-wracking for your practice or organization, with the proper tools, you can be easily prepared. These audits will help all in healthcare, highlighting the importance of being compliant and keeping patients’ data safe. That’s why Abyde is here to help. Our software simplifies compliance, allowing your practice to focus on what matters most, taking care of patients, or in the case of Business Associates, running your business. To learn more about how you can be prepared for the random OCR HIPAA audits, email us at info@abyde.com or schedule a compliance consultation below. MEDICAL PRACTICES: SCHEDULE CONSULTATION BUSINESS ASSOCIATES: SCHEDULE CONSULTATION

Cybersecurity, Fines, HIPAA

The OCR Cracks Down on Cyber Attack Breaches: Second Ransomware Attack Settled in Four Months

February 22, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 22, 2024 Well, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) did it again. In the past four months, two ransomware cyber attack cases have been settled, resulting in hefty fines, yikes! While the first ruling affected a Business Associate with a major fine, this breach impacted a Covered Entity. In February 2019, Green Ridge Behavioral Health in Maryland filed a breach report that all of their files on patients were encrypted with ransomware, resulting in over 14,000 patients’ data being compromised. That’s a lot of people! As the name suggests, ransomware is a cybercrime where data is held for ransom. Users are unable to access data/files till the ransom is paid. It is a malicious crime that is extremely prevalent in healthcare, with a 264% increase over the past five years in large breaches reported to the OCR. In their investigation, the OCR found potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules from before and right up until the breach. In their variety of violations, some other major misses included: As a result, Green Ridge Behavioral Health was fined $40,000 and will now be monitored by the OCR for the next three years. That’s a long time and a lot of money for a practice that could have avoided this situation with the right compliance solution. That’s where Abyde steps in. Cyber attacks are unfortunately common in healthcare, accounting for 79% of the large breaches reported to OCR. We’ve now seen a pattern of the OCR ruling on ransomware cases, cracking down on practices and organizations that are not prepared for a cyber attack. The OCR is not messing around, and these fines are a clear example. Thankfully, with Abyde, we make the journey to compliance simple. The Abyde software resolves many of the reasons why practices and organizations get fined. You can complete our intuitive Security Risk Analysis in minutes, being able to see what your practice needs to do to be compliant in a flash. Abyde also has engaging training, with interactive activities and videos, all with entertaining themes, to keep the user interested (yes, you read that right). We also have a portal that allows you to easily manage all of your agreements with Business Associates, digitally signing and storing them in the software. What’s the cherry on top? We will remind you when these agreements are close to expiring, being your compliance crew so you can focus on running your practice. We have a variety of resources for practices of any size to use, like dynamically generated policies and procedures, allowing you to finally ditch the dusty HIPAA binder, HIPAA logs, our team of friendly compliance experts is always a call (or message!) away, and much more. Why wait for a compliance disaster? Email us at info@abyde.com and schedule a demo of our revolutionary software here.

Best Practices, Business Associates, HIPAA

Not Just Delivering Packages: Medical Couriers’ Role in Protecting PHI

February 21, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 21, 2024 While doctors, nurses, and researchers often take center stage in healthcare, there’s another critical group working tirelessly behind the scenes: medical couriers. These are the logistics ninjas, the delivery defenders, who ensure vital medical supplies, specimens, and documents reach the right place at the right time. Medical couriers go far beyond simply transporting packages. They handle protected health information (PHI) in various forms, making them subject to HIPAA compliance alongside healthcare providers and health plans. This means they share the responsibility of safeguarding patient privacy and security. Key Responsibilities in Compliance: HIPAA Compliance: A Shared Responsibility Healthcare providers rely on Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to establish clear expectations and obligations for couriers regarding HIPAA compliance. These agreements outline: The Impact of Compliance: Effective HIPAA compliance by medical couriers benefits everyone: The Future of Couriers and Compliance The future of medical courier services might involve drones and autonomous vehicles for faster deliveries. However, the core responsibilities – data security, adherence to regulations, and understanding the impact on patient privacy – will remain central to their role as HIPAA business associates. Medical couriers are no longer just delivery personnel; they are crucial partners in ensuring healthcare compliance and safeguarding patient privacy. By understanding their critical role and responsibilities, we can appreciate their impact on a healthier and more secure healthcare system. For medical couriers and Business Associates in general, Abyde is your compliance solution. With our newest software, HIPAA for Business Associates, BAs can manage compliance with ease. HIPAA for BAs includes a robust security risk analysis, training for BAs, automated policies and procedures, dynamically generated Business Associate Agreements for Covered Entities and Sub-Business Associates, and much more. To learn more, email hipaa-ba@abyde.com and schedule an educational consultation here.

Abyde News, Business Associates

Abyde Launches HIPAA for Business Associates Software: Simplifying Compliance for Business Associates in Healthcare

February 19, 2024 Gaurav Modi Comments Off

February 19, 2024 CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, February 19, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Abyde, a leading healthcare compliance software company, today announced the launch of its HIPAA for Business Associates software, a cloud-based solution designed to streamline compliance for organizations working with protected health information (PHI). The healthcare industry relies heavily on Business Associates (BAs) for various tasks, from claims processing to data analytics. However, navigating the complexities of HIPAA regulations can be challenging and time-consuming for BAs of all sizes. Abyde’s new solution addresses this concern by providing a user-friendly, comprehensive toolkit for BA compliance. “We understand the challenges Business Associates face in ensuring HIPAA compliance,” says Matt DiBlasi, President and CEO of Abyde. “Our HIPAA for Business Associates solution is designed to alleviate those burdens by simplifying the process and empowering these organizations to focus on their core business.” Key Features and Benefits: Intuitive Security Risk Analysis: Quickly identify and prioritize potential vulnerabilities with automated assessments. Interactive Training: Engage employees with compliance modules tailored to their roles and responsibilities. Dynamically Generated Policies and Procedures: Get customized policies and procedures built to meet your specific needs and industry standards. BA and Covered Entity (CE) Portal: Facilitate seamless document exchange with Covered Entities and Sub-Business Associates. Abyde Drive: Securely store and manage documents within the software (not including PHI). Additional Features: Incident management, breach incident report logs, and ongoing regulatory updates. Benefits for Business Associates: Reduced risk of non-compliance: Ensure ongoing adherence to HIPAA regulations and avoid costly penalties. Improved efficiency: Automate tasks and streamline workflows for a more efficient compliance process. Enhanced organization: Store and access documents with Abyde drive. Increased employee engagement: Foster a culture of compliance with interactive training and clear policies. Scalability: Adapt Abyde to your specific needs and grow with your business. Availability and Pricing:HIPAA for Business Associates is available starting today, Monday, February 19th, 2024. Abyde offers pricing plans to accommodate the needs of businesses of all sizes. Schedule a demo today to learn more. About Abyde:Abyde is a leading healthcare compliance software company dedicated to empowering organizations to navigate the complexities of compliance. With its suite of cloud-based solutions, Abyde makes compliance more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective. For more information, visit www.abyde.com. Contact: Penny SchweitzerAbyde+1 800-594-0883pschweitzer@abyde.comVisit us on social media:FacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramYouTube