HIPAA vs HITRUST: Understanding the Differences in Healthcare Compliance

When it comes to compliance in the healthcare industry, there are two major frameworks that organizations must adhere to: HIPAA and HITRUST. Both are designed to protect sensitive patient information, but there are significant differences between the two. In this blog, we will explore the key differences between HIPAA and HITRUST and how they affect healthcare organizations.

HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a federal law that was passed in 1996. It sets standards for protecting the privacy and security of individuals' personal health information (PHI). HIPAA requires healthcare organizations to have administrative, physical, and technical safeguards in place to protect PHI, and it also requires organizations to conduct regular risk assessments. The process of HIPAA compliance includes performing regular risk assessments, implementing appropriate safeguards, and training staff on HIPAA regulations and best practices.

HITRUST, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive framework that builds on HIPAA by providing a set of best practices and guidelines for protecting sensitive patient information. HITRUST covers not just healthcare providers, but also business associates and vendors that handle PHI. It also includes more detailed requirements for incident response, risk management, and compliance reporting. The HITRUST compliance process includes performing a HITRUST CSF assessment, implementing appropriate safeguards, and training staff on HITRUST regulations and best practices. HITRUST also includes a certification process, in which organizations can go through to demonstrate their compliance.

One of the key differences between HIPAA and HITRUST is the level of detail provided in the frameworks. HITRUST is considered more prescriptive than HIPAA and provides more specific guidance for implementing and maintaining compliance. Additionally, HITRUST includes a certification process that organizations can go through to demonstrate their compliance.

Another important difference is that HITRUST includes a specific focus on third-party vendors and business associates, whereas HIPAA does not. HITRUST requires that organizations assess the security of their vendors and business associates, and it also requires that they have agreements in place to ensure that these entities are compliant with HITRUST requirements.

HITRUST also has its own readiness assessment and audit process, which is known as HITRUST CSF (Common Security Framework) assessment. HITRUST CSF is a security framework designed to help organizations identify, assess and manage their information security risks. HITRUST CSF assessment focuses on identifying the gaps in the organization's security controls, and also provides a detailed action plan to remediate the identified gaps.

In conclusion, HIPAA and HITRUST are both critical compliance frameworks for healthcare organizations. Both are designed to protect sensitive patient information, but HITRUST is more comprehensive and prescriptive than HIPAA. It also includes a certification process and a focus on third-party vendors and business associates. HITRUST readiness assessment and auditing through HITRUST CSF assessment is a necessary step for healthcare organizations to ensure their compliance with the HITRUST framework. By understanding the key differences between HIPAA and HITRUST, healthcare organizations can better protect sensitive patient information and maintain compliance with both frameworks.

Thanks and Regards,

IARM Information Security.

HITRUST Compliance || HITRUST Readiness Assessment