ABYDE FOR DARKHORSE TECH USERS

It's time for stress-free compliance.

  • EASIEST SOFTWARE YOU’LL EVER USE

    And if we’re being honest, easy is an understatement. All companies say it, but we are so confident in the simplicity of our software that we will prove it.

  • ‘HANDS OFF’ APPROACH

    We automate it all – from notifications about training to policy generation. Can you imagine not having to set your own reminders?! Go ahead, focus on your patients – we will ping you with the important stuff.

  • CUSTOMER SUCCESS TEAM LIKE NO OTHER

    We will meet you where you are – whether that’s by phone, chat, or email. It’s tough stuff in the tech space, but our customers love us as much as we love them.

  • STATE BY STATE, LAW BY LAW

    No matter what state your practice is in, our solution is for you — from sea to shining sea. We know our stuff and dedicate ourselves to staying on top of the latest state and federal changes so you don’t have to.

  • MORE THAN JUST SOFTWARE

    With us, you get more than policies and software. We offer Master Classes, newsletters, and more to keep you up to date. At the end of the day, we are proud to lead with education.

LATEST COMPLIANCE NEWS

HIPAA government shutdown

Beyond the SRA: Keeping HIPAA on Track When Government Tools Go Dark

October 29, 2025   By now, you’d have to be hiding under a rock to miss the headlines surrounding the government shutdown. The impact of this federal funding freeze is hitting nearly every major industry in the United States. While we aren’t sure when it will end, it’s shaping up to possibly be the longest government shutdown ever. However, lost in the political chess match is news about a vital resource for medical practices: The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) Security Risk Analysis (SRA) tool has been taken offline.   The SRA website as of October 29, 2025 This tool is necessary for healthcare practices to analyze the technical, physical, and administrative safeguards they have to secure Protected Health Information (PHI). Without it, practices could be left with serious violations that jeopardize their practice and their patients’ confidential information.  While it may not seem like a big deal for a government website to be hit with a “be back soon” message, the SRA is a major resource for healthcare practices looking to implement the most effective and appropriate precautions necessary for compliance. During the last round of audits, only 14% of practices were able to produce compliant documentation, but with the SRA tool rendered ineffective, that number could go even lower.  Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time the tool has gone down. So, what do practices do in the meantime?  The instability of the government-run SRA highlights the importance of implementing a comprehensive compliance program for every single practice that wants to meet the requirements of federal and state regulations. (Hint: that should be every practice.)   How Compliance Software Can Help Your Practice Fortunately, there are solutions available that aren’t beholden to DC downtime, like Abyde. Abye’s medical compliance software offers an SRA tool that was built using the government’s requirements, but presented in a more digestible format. This tool (which is online today!) gives practices the same insight into potential vulnerabilities that could violate compliance and lead to serious consequences.  But even better, the software solution dives deeper – after all, the information revealed by the SRA is just the tip of the iceberg.  HIPAA compliance is a thorough and continuous process, and your practice must cultivate a culture of compliance to pass audits, protect patient data, and maintain the integrity of your business.  The right software can help you not only spot vulnerabilities but mitigate them with end-to-end training, dynamic policy and procedure generation, BA documentation, and more. It also provides resources like compliance checklists that can shield your practice from common pitfalls and costly fines. Beyond the tangible benefits, thorough compliance software offers expert support to assist with HIPAA compliance questions, complaints, breaches, and audits. The SRA tool is a stepping stone to compliance; a centralized hub lets your practice know exactly where it stands.    Getting Compliant Today Even amid a shutdown, your HIPAA obligations don’t pause. Sooner or later, the two sides will play nice and we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled investigations. Don’t let your compliance slide in the meantime! A modern platform centralizes your SRA, policies, BAAs, training, and support so you always know what’s done, what’s due, and what’s at risk. Meet with a compliance expert today to learn more about HIPAA compliance in your practice. 

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HIPAA Compliant Patient Requests

How to Stay HIPAA Compliant When Patients Request Their Medical Records

October 27, 2025   Imagine a scenario that’s played out at your practice a million times: a patient calls and asks for a copy of their medical records. Simple, right? Believe it or not, what seems like a routine request can quickly become a compliance risk if your employees misunderstand timelines, allowable fees, or who’s allowed to access certain information. With over 50 penalties and millions of dollars in fees issued by the Office for Civil Rights due to Right of Access violations, your practice has a responsibility to understand its role when handling patient requests. By acknowledging your practice’s duties and properly training your staff, you can empower your team to deliver documents in a timely manner that still protects sensitive data.   Right of Access 101 Right of Access, established in the HIPAA Privacy Rule, gives patients the right to receive their records within 30 days of the initial request. Depending on the state, the number of days your practice has to fulfill requests may even be less. For example, California legislation requires that patient requests be upheld within 15 days.  This timeline is strict and can only be extended once for an additional 30 days. So, once you receive a request, it’s go time.  Before the staff gathers anything, the first question is, how should these records be sent out? Even if the request comes through a secure portal, your staff must encrypt any Protected Health Information (PHI) sent electronically. Certified mail is recommended for safe and trackable delivery if the patient requests a physical copy. Now, what can you charge to deliver these records? Patients have a right to their health records, and any associated costs must be minimal to remain HIPAA compliant. According to the OCR, a flat fee of $6.50 for all requests for copies of PHI maintained electronically. Additionally, ensure that thorough documentation, like a current HIPAA consent form, is in place if the requester is not the patient themselves.    Keeping Your Practice Compliant So, think back to the scenario we mentioned earlier. Only now, you don’t have to stress! Your team is trained and aware of their responsibility to fulfill patients’ requests. Your patients get what they want, and even better, your practice avoids thousands of dollars in fines and reputational damage. Quickly and compliantly addressing patient requests promotes patient satisfaction and can help your practice avoid thousands of dollars in fines and reputational damage. The proper software solution centralizes all documentation, policies, forms, and training related to Right of Access. This cloud-based hub provides easy access for everyone in your practice, giving staff the tools they need to be successful.  To learn more about Right of Access in your practice, meet with a compliance expert today.

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