The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the law that governs the confidentiality of patient data. To guarantee HIPAA compliance, businesses that deal with protected health information (PHI) must have the physical, network, and procedural security checks in place and implement them.
When delivering healthcare communications on a large scale, it's all too easy to ignore compliance issues. Staying compliant and avoiding multi-million dollar penalties is easier with a HIPAA compliant direct mail partner who offers automation and monitoring.
What are the marketing requirements under HIPAA?
While there are strict privacy regulations regarding PHI for marketing reasons, healthcare practitioners are allowed to utilize it when communicating about their products and services.
This implies that a healthcare practitioner might advertise a new device or service to its patient database. It's not a problem for a healthcare practitioner to send a flier about a new weight-loss program to all obese customers, even if the therapy they underwent was not for obesity.
However, it is not acceptable to sell or transmit that same patient data with another company for marketing purposes, which takes us to the second, and arguably most crucial, element of the HIPAA standards for direct mail: data protection. Most importantly, a HIPAA compliant direct mail must be aware of these laws.
Understanding the information and delivery constraints imposed by HIPAA
The essential thing to understand about a direct mail campaign is what you can and cannot mail. Direct mail is vital for patient communication. However, any information that may reveal a person's identity must not be included, such as:
- Identification information:
Driver's licence number, IP addresses, photographs, birth date, social security numbers, biometrics, and address
- Contact information:
Emails, contact numbers and addresses
- Healthcare information:
record numbers, financial position, provider identities, treatment plans, and diagnosis
You may mail the following information:
- Correspondence like invoices, letters, and statements
- Information on various treatment choices or medical treatments that is educational.
- Benefits or coverage explanations (EOCs and EOBs)
- Notices about possible security breaches or workplace announcements in general
Healthcare organizations should not send via ordinary mail any health data. It violates HIPAA and puts the receiver's privacy in danger if anyone other than the intended receiver opens the mail. HIPAA compliant direct mail services will have all the necessary tools for direct mail options.
Why outsource your Direct Mail Campaign to a HIPAA Compliant Direct Mail?
1. You can save time and money:
HIPAA compliant direct mail has in-house technology and years of experience in HIPAA compliance print and mail services.
2. Reduce Risks:
To maintain the security of each healthcare mailing item, these companies employ the finest HIPAA mailing practices.
Partner With An Expert
HIPAA compliance is mandatory, but it does not have to be tough. Working with a reputable HIPAA compliant direct mail firm that understands what they're doing can give you peace of mind that your mail is compliant. Spectra's print management team are aware of HIPAA guidelines and can help you with all your direct mail requirements while staying compliant always.
It is a prime reason that many technology companies are now considering the need for telemedicine app development.What Are Telemedicine Apps Benefits?There are a plethora of benefits for using and developing software for Healthcare.
If the backend infrastructure is weak and lacks security, it won’t take much time for hackers to breach the data.
And that’s the main reason why coders pay so much attention to database design during telemedicine app creation.How Telemedicine Apps Make Money?There are several models that are required for how to develop a telemedicine app in order to generate revenue from the usage.These models need to be thoroughly planned and strategized by the telemedicine app developers before they go ahead with the development process.The basic way through which these apps earn a profit is through the fees.
For instance, Doctor on Demand charges a fee of 25% from the patient for every successful appointment they make with the doctor.The scalable business model is crucial for your product growth.
Yet, the developers also should know what is your plan of monetization for a better technical design of your telemedicine app.It is estimated that Doctor on Demand made a revenue of 12 million dollars in the previous year.So to understand how to develop a telemedicine app and make money through it, let’s go ahead and study the models in detail.Subscription ModelOne of the basic ways through which telemedicine apps make money is through the monthly or annual payment plansAdvertisement ModelIn-app advertisements are the best way to generate high profits from your application.Reference ModelAnother way to earn money for the telemedicine apps is through references.
Franchising ModelThe sole purpose of building a telehealth app is that you can get medical services without physically going to the hospital.
