HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is U.S. legislation created to improve healthcare standards. Covered entities and their business associates must be HIPAA compliant to protect the rights and privacy of patients and their protected health information (PHI). We know the HIPAA industry is vast and that it is important to easily communicate while remaining HIPAA compliant.
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This is especially true with the recent move toward remote working and the increase in cyberattacks against healthcare. Today, we will determine if Lob is HIPAA compliant or not.
Launched in 2015, Lob automates and simplifies direct mail marketing and address verification. The idea is to program and control mail just like email.
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This includes sending postcards, self-mailers, letters, and checks to partners and patients alike. Lob uses cloud software and APIs to help organizations send smarter, faster, and safer mail worldwide, saving time and money in the process. Mail is automatically tracked from production to delivery to meet various compliance requirements and to provide a tracking method for mail campaign performances.
A major part of HIPAA compliance is ensuring a business associate will sign a business associate agreement (BAA). A business associate is a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involves the use or disclosure of PHI. In this instance, Lob is a business associate of a healthcare organization if it accesses any electronic PHI (ePHI), like an address.
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Generally, the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows healthcare providers to disclose PHI if they receive assurance that the information is protected through a signed BAA. Lob has a web page that addresses healthcare and states that the company is HIPAA compliant for its Enterprise customers. According to Support, customers need to contact sales to get a BAA.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule defines marketing as “a communication about a product or service that encourages recipients of the communication to purchase or use the product or service.” HIPAA compliance for marketing concerns both stored and transmitted information.
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On its healthcare and security web pages, Lob stresses its HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity features from product to corporate level. First, Lob stores all data on the cloud to ensure security. Second, the company undergoes a SOC (System and Organization Controls) 2 Type 2 and HIPAA audit annually. Furthermore, Lob employs encryption at rest and in transit, as well as endpoint security, to secure transactions. Finally, technical access controls such as password security and privileged access management are available.
The BAA is a key component of HIPAA compliance and Lob will sign a BAA for its Enterprise clients, asking healthcare organizations to contact sales to learn more.
Conclusion Lob can be HIPAA compliant.
Healthcare providers know that clear and efficient communication with patients is a key component of running their practice. Email marketing can be a compliment to direct mail marketing to promote your business. Paubox Marketing sends healthcare marketing emails directly to your patients' inboxes. This increases patient activation and keeps patients engaged with their healthcare treatment.
Paubox Marketing allows you to securely communicate with patients about:
SEE ALSO: Why Paubox Marketing is the best HIPAA email marketing solution available
Paubox is dedicated to providing the highest quality of security to healthcare providers. Our products are HITRUST CSF certified which means we have met key regulatory requirements and industry-defined requirements and are appropriately managing risk.