The healthcare industry is required to prove the security of the protected health information (PHI) they receive, store, and use. According to Forvis Mazars, “HITRUST is the best-in-class certification to highlight an organization’s strategic focus on information security and privacy.” Therefore, a HITRUST-validated assessment report serves as a tool for healthcare organizations to prove their commitment to PHI security.
Understanding HITRUST-validated assessment reports
The HITRUST Validated Assessment Report is an extensive record that outlines the findings of a company's evaluation carried out concerning the HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF). This framework, tailored for healthcare services, encompasses various regulations and protocols such as HITECH, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and more.
HITRUST CSF overview
The HITRUST CSF is a comprehensive security framework designed to standardize and streamline the security requirements for healthcare organizations and their business associates. It incorporates a wide range of standards and regulations, including HIPAA, HITECH, PCI DSS, and others.
Related: What does HITRUST CSF certification mean?
Purpose of the assessment
The assessment evaluates how well an organization's information security controls align with the requirements specified in the HITRUST CSF. This includes assessing administrative, technical, and physical security controls.
Scope of the assessment
The report defines the scope of the assessment, specifying which systems, processes, and facilities were included in the evaluation.
Detailed assessment findings
It provides a detailed analysis of the organization's security controls, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This includes an assessment of control effectiveness in mitigating risks and protecting sensitive information.
Compliance status
The report summarizes the organization's overall compliance status with the HITRUST CSF requirements. It typically categorizes findings based on their severity and impact on security posture.
Recommendations and remediation plan
Based on the assessment findings, the report includes recommendations for addressing any deficiencies or gaps identified. It may outline a remediation plan with timelines and responsibilities for implementing corrective actions.
Risk assessment
An assessment of the organization's risk posture may also be included, highlighting areas of high risk and potential vulnerabilities.
Learn more: How to perform a risk assessment
Documentation review
The report evaluates the completeness and accuracy of documentation supporting the organization's security program, ensuring that policies, procedures, and controls are well documented and maintained.
Validation process
The report details the validation process conducted by HITRUST assessors or a third-party assessor to ensure the assessment was conducted according to HITRUST requirements.
What does the report include?
The assessment report typically includes:
- Scope and objectives: Defines the scope of the assessment and its objectives.
- Detailed controls assessment: Provides a detailed analysis of how the organization's security controls align with the requirements of the HITRUST CSF.
- Control effectiveness: Assesses the effectiveness of each control in mitigating risks and protecting sensitive information.
- Findings and recommendations: Documents any deficiencies or gaps identified during the assessment and provides recommendations for remediation.
- Compliance status: Summarizes the organization's overall compliance status with the HITRUST CSF.
- Risk assessment: Evaluates the organization's risk posture and identifies areas of high risk.
- Documentation review: Assesses the completeness and accuracy of documentation supporting the organization's security program.
- Remediation plan: Outlines a plan for addressing any deficiencies or gaps identified during the assessment.
FAQs
What is HITRUST?
HITRUST (Health Information Trust Alliance) is a privately held company that provides a Common Security Framework (CSF) designed to harmonize and streamline the requirements of various healthcare-related regulations and standards, including HIPAA, HITECH, PCI DSS, and others. It helps organizations manage information risk and compliance in the healthcare industry.
Who needs a HITRUST assessment?
Healthcare organizations, health systems, health plans, and their business associates often undergo HITRUST assessments to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. This includes entities that handle PHI and other sensitive healthcare data.
How does HITRUST certification differ from HIPAA compliance?
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets forth regulations and standards for protecting health information, but compliance is more generalized and open to interpretation. HITRUST certification, on the other hand, involves a more rigorous and structured assessment against the HITRUST CSF, which includes HIPAA requirements but also integrates other standards and best practices.
Go deeper: What's the difference between HIPAA & HITRUST?
Tshedimoso Makhene
