The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a standardized tool used to assess a patient's substance use and related issues.
Although the ASSIST itself does not have to be HIPAA compliant, providers must store and transmit these findings on a HIPAA compliant form.
The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that the ASSIST was developed “by an international group of researchers and clinicians as a technical tool to assist with early identification of substance use related health risks and substance use disorders in primary health care, general medical care and other settings.”
It consists of a structured questionnaire that assesses the frequency and impact of substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. Its questions include, "In the past year, how often have you used alcohol?" and "How often have you felt that you should cut down on your drinking?"
Additionally, the ASSIST can help clinicians monitor a patient's substance use over time, so providers can adjust their treatment plans accordingly.
While the ASSIST is a screening tool that does not explicitly require HIPAA compliance, the sensitive information it collects is considered protected health information (PHI). So, healthcare providers must adhere to HIPAA regulations when handling this data.
More specifically, providers must use a HIPAA compliant form, like Paubox forms to administer, store, and share ASSIST results.
Use a HIPAA compliant platform: Providers must use a HIPAA compliant platform, with advanced encryption, secure cloud storage, and access controls to protect PHI during transmission and at rest.
Implement role-based access controls: Role-based access controls help organizations restrict employee access to PHI. Specifically, the organization can grant a substance use therapist full access to the ASSIST results, but administrative staff should be restricted to viewing non-sensitive information.
Get patient authorization: HIPAA’s Privacy Rule mandates that providers must obtain informed consent before administering the ASSIST. Paubox forms also offer a customizable consent form that providers can tailor with details on how the patient’s data will be used, stored, and protected.
Use a business associate agreement (BAA): When using a HIPAA compliant platform for data management, check that the platform is willing to sign a BAA that acknowledges its role in upholding HIPAA regulations.
HIPAA compliant forms use advanced security measures like TLS encryption to minimize the risk of data breaches that could lead to non-compliance penalties and fines.
Digital HIPAA compliant forms automate data collection to improve workflow efficiency. Providers can also integrate these forms with their existing electronic health record (EHR) systems for easy and secure access to PHI.
Digitally collecting and storing ASSIST results can help reduce manual data entry errors, like illegible handwriting or transcription mistakes. It can also expedite the evaluation and interpretation of the data to make treatment-related decisions. Providers can also analyze trends in communities to identify population-based behavioral interventions that address substance use disorders like alcoholism.
Mental health professionals, like primary health physicians, can securely share ASSIST results with psychiatrists for a referral. The psychiatrist can then use this information to suggest appropriate treatment recommendations.
HIPAA compliant platforms have built-in audit trails that track access to patient information. Healthcare organizations should regularly check these records to identify and address possible security risks.
Go deeper: Why providers need HIPAA compliant forms even with EHRs
No, mental health professionals should use a HIPAA compliant platform, like Paubox, which offers user-friendly interfaces and intuitive design elements that make it easy to navigate and complete the forms.
Yes, HIPAA compliant forms can be tailored to meet the specific needs of healthcare organizations while protecting patients’ privacy and security.
Providers can only share protected health information (PHI) without patient consent for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations or when required by law.
Read also: Does HIPAA cover the inebriated?