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.
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.
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?
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.
The report defines the scope of the assessment, specifying which systems, processes, and facilities were included in the evaluation.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
The assessment report typically includes:
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.
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.
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?