Beyond Privacy: Don’t Forget About The HIPAA Electronic Transaction Rules

With the ink barely dry on the business associate agreements required by the HIPAA privacy rules, employers need to remember to act quickly on another component of HIPAA– the rules governing electronic exchanges of data involving employer-sponsored health plans and other HIPAA "covered entities."

Fortunately for employers, the HIPAA Electronic Transaction Rules are not likely to demand the same commitment of time and resources as the privacy rules require. If significant effort is required for some employers, much of that burden likely will fall on the IT or HRIS functions. Of course, HR and benefits professionals should alert the technology specialists to these new obligations and work with them in developing compliance strategies.