Simplified Training Addresses HIPAA/HITECH Requirements With Two New Tool Kits

Employers Who Offer Employees Health Insurance Now Faced With New HIPAA/HITECH Regulations and Potential for Significant Fines; Many Businesses Must Also Comply

Raleigh, NC August 3, 2010 - Simplified Training (www.simplifiedtraining.com) is releasing two tool kits – one for Employers and one for Business Associates – that help these entities meet the new HIPAA Privacy, Security and HITECH compliance and training requirements. The tool kits are modeled after earlier versions that guided thousands of employers through the process of complying with HIPAA regulations as they were originally written.

Many employers who provide healthcare coverage are still not compliant with either HIPAA Privacy or the original Security Regulations. The Employers Tool Kit combines HIPAA Privacy, Security and HITECH into one package. The separate Business Associate (BA) package covers the same three requirements scaled to meet the BA rule requirements.

“The Business Associate Tool Kit meets the needs of businesses such as shredding companies, IT consultants, attorneys, CPAs, or landlords that may see Protected Health Information (PHI) of their client’s employees,” explained Rob Karn, VP of Marketing for Simplified Training Solutions (STS) (www.simplifiedtraining.com). “The Employer’s Tool Kit offers sample documentation needed by a plan sponsor to meet the requirements of the Rule. It has over 50 forms for managing the health information of employees, plus more in depth explanation of Privacy and Security procedures. Employers can leverage their vendors to meet the Business Associate standards that are covered the Business Associate Tool Kit,” Karn concluded.

In the past, Health and Human Services (HHS) only responded to complaints. The new Rule mandates random monitoring for compliance and mandatory investigation of minor claims. Additionally, as part of the new Rule, breaches or improper release of PHI must be reported to HHS. Since the rule went into effect in February 2009, hundreds of thousands of identifiable names and attached health information have been stolen or lost. The cost for notification plus the fines and potential jail time make HIPAA Privacy, Security and HITECH compliance a very important part of running a business.

About Simplified Training Solutions (www.simplifiedtraining.com)

At Simplified Training Solutions, we translate obtuse regulations into tools that prepare HR professionals, privacy and security officers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare administrators to meet federally mandated compliance regulations. With more than 100 years of combined regulatory, educational, professional management and healthcare experience, the staff prepares and delivers educational products and communications training in a variety of media that best meets the needs of individual learners.

Simplified Training Solutions has created training and communications materials for employer associations, third party administrators, CPAs and financial advisors, state societies, national physicians associations, specialty groups, long-term care facilities, and health information management organizations. Your success is their primary goal. For more information about Simplified Training Solutions, please visit www.simplifiedtraining.com.