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Compliance

Security

Compliance

Introduction

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a hybrid entity and has designated Healthcare Components that are subject to HIPAA.  UCCS’s Healthcare Components and Business Associates must comply fully with the applicable HIPAA Security Rule requirements. To that end, all such members of the UCCS Workforce must comply with this HIPAA Security Policy which is meant to ensure that UCCS meets its HIPAA obligations.

 

This Policy shall be applicable to UCCS Healthcare Components, UCCS Business Associates, and any department or unit within the University that receives PHI from the Healthcare Components or Business Associates. UCCS reserves the right to amend or change this Policy at any time without notice.

 

The practices presented here are required under this policy and represent a campus-level approach to HIPAA Security Rule compliance. All UCCS entities subject to the HIPAA Security Rule must implement these practices and document their implementation to demonstrate compliance. Each entity must designate a position with this responsibility. For information about the development and implementation of these practices please contact the Information Security Office.

HIPAA Security Rule Practices

This document is arranged by HIPAA Security Rule requirement (known as “Standards” and “implementation specifications [1]”). Each requirement is followed by one or more “recommended practices” which UCCS HIPAA entities must implement and document in order to comply with that requirement. “Required” Standards and implementation specifications must be implemented as stated for compliance. For “addressable” implementation specifications, it must be determined whether each specification is reasonable and appropriate. If it is, it must be implemented as stated. If it is not, the entity must document the reasons for this determination and implement alternative compensating controls, or otherwise indicate how the intent of the standard can still be met.

The UCCS Workbook for HIPAA Security Rule Compliance, available from the Information Security Office, is the documentation tool for ensuring compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule. It includes all of the information in this document plus a format for documenting the implementation of specific procedures. 

Each covered entity at UCCS must work with the Information Security Office to complete a workbook and document specific procedures.

 

Table of Contents

ADMINISTRATIVE STANDARDS

PHYSICAL STANDARDS

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

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Footnotes:

[1] An “implementation specification” is an additional detailed instruction for implementing a particular Standard.

ADMINISTRATIVE STANDARDS

STANDARD
§164.308(a)(1)(i) - SECURITY MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Implement policies and procedures to prevent, detect, contain, and correct security violations.

§164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A) - Risk Analysis (Required)

Conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information held by the covered entity.

Practices for Compliance

  • Identify relevant information systems and electronic information resources that require protection.
  • Conduct risk assessments to understand and document risks from security failures that may cause loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability.  Risk assessments should take into account the potential adverse impact on the University’s reputation, operations, and assets. Risk assessments should include backups and non-original sources of ePHI.
  • Review and update risk assessments every three years, or more frequently in response to significant legislative, environmental or operational changes.
  • Inform the UCCS HIPAA Privacy and Security Officials of the completion of all documented risk assessments within thirty (30) days of their completion, and provide a copy upon request.

§164.308(a)(1)(ii)(B) - Risk Management (Required)

Implement security measures sufficient to reduce risks and vulnerabilities to a reasonable and appropriate level to comply with §164.308(a).

Practices for Compliance

  • Select appropriate controls, e.g. policies, procedures, technologies, to safeguard data relative to the sensitivity or criticality determined by the risk assessment, and document the parties responsible for implementation of each recommended practice.
  • Where possible, incorporate these Standards and practices when evaluating and selecting new hardware and software.

§164.308(a)(1)(ii)(C) - Sanction Policy

Apply appropriate sanctions against workforce members who fail to comply with the security policies and procedures of the covered entity.

Practices for Compliance

  • Take disciplinary or other action in accordance with University personnel policies, bargaining agreements, and guidelines on workforce members who, in the course of their employment, fail to comply with University policy and procedures, including information security policy and procedures.
  • Ensure that documentation of violations and application of HIPAA-related sanctions is maintained appropriately and retained for six years.
    • Units are responsible for informing Human Resources and/or Labor Relations when submitting documentation with this retention requirement.

§164.308(a)(1)(ii)(D) - Information system activity review (Required)

Implement procedures to regularly review records of information system activity, such as audit logs, access reports, and security incident tracking reports.

Practices for Compliance

  • Regularly review information system activity and log-in attempts.
  • Maintain documentation of periodic log reviews.
  • Logs relevant to security incidents should be retained for six years and the remainder of the data should only be retained for up to 90 days in accordance with usual and customary practice.
  • Define responsibility for information system activity review, including log-in monitoring and access reports.


STANDARD
§164.308(a)(2) - ASSIGNED SECURITY RESPONSIBILITY
Identify the security official who is responsible for the development and implementation of the policies and procedures required by this subpart for the entity.

Practices for Compliance
The campus Information Security Officer (ISO) has been designated the campus HIPAA Security Official for UCCS. Each UCCS HIPAA entity must designate a position with responsibility for HIPAA Security Rule compliance.

STANDARD
§164.308(a)(3)(i) - WORKFORCE SECURITY
Implement policies and procedures to ensure that all members of its workforce have appropriate access to electronic protected health information, as provided under paragraph (a) (4) of this section, and to prevent those workforce members who do not have access under paragraph (a) (4) of this section from obtaining access to electronic protected health information.

§164.308(a)(3)(ii)(A) - Authorization and/or supervision (Addressable)

Implement procedures for the authorization and/or supervision of workforce members who work with electronic protected health information or in locations where it might be accessed.

Practices for Compliance

Determine which individuals are authorized to work with ePHI in accordance with a role-based approach.

§164.308(a)(3)(ii)(B) - Workforce clearance procedure (Addressable)

Implement procedures to determine that the access of a workforce member to electronic protected health information is appropriate.

Practices for Compliance

  • Review role definitions and assignments for appropriateness at least annually.
  • Review access management procedures for appropriateness at least annually.

§164.308(a)(3)(ii)(C) - Termination procedures (Addressable)

Implement procedures for terminating access to electronic protected health information when the employment of a workforce member ends or as required by determinations made as specified in paragraph (a) (3) (ii) (B) of this section.

Practices for Compliance

Establish account maintenance procedures that ensure termination of accounts or change in access privileges for individuals who have been terminated or are no longer authorized to access ePHI.


STANDARD
§164.308(a)(4)(i) - INFORMATION ACCESS MANAGEMENT
Implement policies and procedures for authorizing access to electronic protected health information that are consistent with the applicable requirements of this subpart.

§164.308(a)(4)(ii)(A) - Isolating health care clearinghouse functions (Required)

If a health care clearinghouse is part of a larger organization, the clearinghouse must implement policies and procedures that protect the electronic protected health information of the clearinghouse from unauthorized access by the larger organization.

§164.308(a)(4)(ii)(B) - Access authorization (Addressable)

Implement policies and procedures for granting access to electronic protected health information, for example, through access to a workstation, transaction, program, process, or other mechanism.

Practices for Compliance

  • There must be a formal system for authorizing user access to ePHI, such as an account request form requiring management approval.
  • Access is to be granted in accordance with a role-based approach.
  • Maintain documentation of all authorized users of ePHI and their access levels.
  • Employees must receive security awareness and HIPAA training prior to obtaining access to ePHI.
  • HIPAA systems must have the capacity to set access controls.

§164.308(a)(4)(ii)(C) - Access establishment and modification (Addressable)

Implement policies and procedures that, based upon the entity’s access authorization policies, establish, document, review, and modify a user’s right of access to a workstation, transaction, program, or process.

Practices for Compliance

Develop and implement procedures to establish, document, review and modify a user’s access to ePHI. Access shall use the principle of “least privileges”.

  • Procedures must ensure regular review of those with access to ePHI, including the appropriateness of access levels.
  • Procedures must require prompt initiation of account modifications/termination.


STANDARD
§164.308(a)(5)(i) - SECURITY AWARENESS AND TRAINING
Implement a security awareness and training program for all members of its workforce (including management).

§164.308(a)(5)(ii)(A) - Security reminders (Addressable)

Periodic security updates.

Practices for Compliance

  • Establish security awareness and HIPAA training for all members of the UCCS workforce who are involved in the creation, transmission, and storage of ePHI. Training activities include:
    • Initial security awareness and HIPAA training for individuals with ePHI-related job duties. Training will include UCCS Password Standards and the importance of protecting against malicious software and exploitation of vulnerabilities.
    • Review of changes to internal policies, procedures, and technologies
    • Periodic reminders about security awareness and HIPAA
    • Security notices or updates regarding current threats
  • HIPAA entities must maintain records of training materials and completion of training for six years.

§164.308(a)(5)(ii)(B) - Protection from malicious software (Addressable)

Procedures for guarding against, detecting, and reporting malicious software.

Practices for Compliance

To protect all devices against malicious software, such as computer viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, etc., implement the following. Also ensure the safeguards and configurations below are included in the standard set-up procedures for new systems and workstations that contain or access ePHI.

  • Run versions of operating system and application software for which security patches are made available and installed in a timely manner.
  • Harden systems. “Hardening” includes:
    • Install OS and third party application updates (patches) and keep them current
    • Change or remove default logins/passwords
    • Disable unnecessary services
    • Install virus and malware protection software and update them at least weekly
    • Set proper file/directory ownership/permissions; NTFS should be used on Windows servers and shared workstations
  • Periodically, and at least annually, review HIPAA workstation settings to ensure that they comply with recommended security practices.
  • Periodically, and at least annually, review email client settings to ensure they comply with current security recommendations.
  • Perform periodic network vulnerability scans of systems containing known ePHI, and workstations that access ePHI, and take adequate steps to correct discovered vulnerabilities.
  • Implement e-mail malicious code filtering.
  • Install/enable firewalls (hardware and/or software) to reduce threat of unauthorized remote access.
  • Intrusion detection software and/or systems may also be installed to detect threat of unauthorized remote access.

§164.308(a)(5)(ii)(C) - Log-in monitoring (Addressable)

Procedures for monitoring log-in attempts and reporting discrepancies.

Practices for Compliance

See §164.308(a)(1)(ii)(D) - Information system activity review, above.

§164.308(a)(5)(ii)(D) - Password management (Addressable)

Procedures for creating, changing, and safeguarding passwords.

Practices for Compliance

Passwords for systems containing or accessing ePHI will comply with the UCCS password strength and security recommendations.

  • Enforce UCCS password complexity requirements for third-party access as possible.


STANDARD
§164.308(a)(6)(i) - SECURITY INCIDENT PROCEDURES
Implement policies and procedures to address security incidents.

§164.308(a)(6)(ii) - Response and Reporting (Required)

Identify and respond to suspected or known security incidents; mitigate, to the extent practicable, harmful effects of security incidents that are known to the covered entity; and document security incidents and their outcomes.

Practices for Compliance

  • Suspected or known security incidents involving ePHI must be reported to the campus HIPAA Security Official. (Note: Privacy incidents involving ePHI must be reported to the campus HIPAA Privacy Official.) See §164.308(a)(2) - Assigned security responsibility, above. 
  • Each HIPAA entity must have procedures and training in place to ensure that suspected or known security incidents involving ePHI are reported and documented appropriately.
  • Security incidents determined to involve ePHI must be documented, tracked and reported as defined in HIPAA entity, UCCS, and CU procedures.

 

STANDARD

§164.308(a)(7)(i) - CONTINGENCY PLAN
Establish (and implement as needed) policies and procedures for responding to an emergency or other occurrence (for example, fire, vandalism, system failure, and natural disaster) that damages systems that contain electronic protected health information.

§164.308(a)(7)(ii)(A) - Data backup plan (Required)

Establish and implement procedures to create and maintain retrievable exact copies of electronic protected health information.

Practices for Compliance

  • Back up sources of essential ePHI on an established schedule.
  • Backup copies must be securely stored in a physically separate location from the data source.
  • Backups containing ePHI will be transported via secure methods.
  • Documentation must exist to verify the creation of backups and their secure storage.

§164.308(a)(7)(ii)(B) - Disaster recovery plan (Required)

Establish (and implement as needed) procedures to restore any loss of data.

Practices for Compliance

  • Establish procedures to restore loss of essential ePHI as a result of a disaster or emergency.
  • Copies of the data restoration procedures must be readily accessible at more than one location and should not rely on the availability of local power or network.
  • Backup procedures must include steps to ensure that all protections (patches, configurations, permissions, firewalls, etc.) are re-applied and restored before ePHI is restored to a system.

§164.308(a)(7)(ii)(C) - Emergency mode operation plan (Required)

Establish (and implement as needed) procedures to enable continuation of critical business processes for protection of the security of electronic protected health information while operating in emergency mode.

Practices for Compliance

  • Ensure that HIPAA entity emergency operations procedures maintain security protections for ePHI.
  • Evaluate operations in emergency mode, e.g. a technical failure or power outage, to determine whether security processes to protect ePHI are maintained.
  • Document assessment and conclusions.
  • Document and implement additional authorities and procedures necessary to ensure the continuation of security protections for ePHI during emergency operations mode.
  • For evacuations:
    • HIPAA entities' emergency response plans shall include logging out of systems that contain ePHI, securing files, and locking up before evacuating a building, if safe to do so.
    • HIPAA entities should have processes to ensure there was no breach when the area is re-occupied. 

§164.308(a)(7)(ii)(D) - Testing and revision procedures (Addressable)

Implement procedures for periodic testing and revision of contingency plans.

Practices for Compliance

  • Document the contingency plan procedures.
  • Ensure that those responsible for executing contingency plan procedures understand their responsibilities.
  • Periodically, and at least annually, perform a test of the contingency plan procedures.
  • Document test results, review and correct any problems with the test, and update procedures accordingly.

§164.308(a)(7)(ii)(E) - Applications and data criticality analysis (Addressable)

Assess the relative criticality of specific applications and data in support of other contingency plan components.

Practices for Compliance

Prioritize criticality of applications and data sets for data backup, restoration, and application of emergency mode operation plan.

 


STANDARD
§164.308(a)(8) - EVALUATION
Perform a periodic technical and non-technical evaluation, based initially upon the standards and implemented under this rule and subsequently, in response to environmental or operational changes affecting the security of electronic protected health information, that establishes the extent to which an entity’s security policies and procedures meet the requirements of this subpart.

Practices for Compliance

  • Review and update campus HIPAA Policy and Practices for Compliance every five (5) years, or more frequently in response to environmental or operational changes that affect the security of ePHI.
    • Submit to the UCCS HIPAA Privacy and Security Officials once annually by calendar year-end a list of titles and last revision dates of the policies designed to meet HIPAA Security Rule requirements, and provide copies upon request.
  • Review and update Unit policies and procedures annually if there is no trigger for more frequent review.
  • Identify the individual(s) responsible for determining when evaluation is necessary due to environmental or operational changes.
  • Document periodic reviews and updates and archive previous versions. Retain for six years.


STANDARD
§164.308(b)(1) - BUSINESS ASSOCIATE CONTRACTS AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
A covered entity, in accordance with §164.306, may permit a business associate to create, receive, maintain, or transmit electronic protected health information on the covered entity’s behalf only if the covered entity obtains satisfactory assurances, in accordance with §164.314(a) that the business associate will appropriately safeguard the information.

§164.308(b)(4) - Written contract or other arrangement (Required)

Document the satisfactory assurances required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section through a written contract or other arrangement with the business associate that meets the applicable requirements of §164.314(a).

Practices for Compliance

Ensure that agreements with business associates [2] contain language stating that University ePHI receives appropriate safeguards in accordance with HIPAA security standards.

  • Ensure that UCCS-approved Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) are in place at either a System wide or local level for vendors and third-party service providers with access to UCCS ePHI or to systems that contain or access ePHI.
  • If a System wide BAA does not exist, one must be executed locally through UCCS Procurement Services and retained in the Compliance Office for six years.
  • HIPAA entity procedures must include notifying Procurement Services when a HIPAA BAA is needed and when renewing an agreement with an existing HIPAA BAA.

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Footnotes:

[2] A “business associate” is a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or as a service to, a covered entity. This includes services where disclosure of ePHI is not limited in nature, such as destruction services or a software vendor that needs access to ePHI in order to provide its service. Common exclusions include health care providers that must comply with HIPAA requirements, conduits (physical or electronic) that transport but do not access protected health information, custodial services, destruction services when the work is performed under the direct control of the covered entity (in which case the service may be treated as part of the workforce). For additional clarification, inclusions and exclusions, see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/businessassociates.html and http://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/securityrule/securityrulepdf.pdf, page 8378, column 1, (b)(1).

PHYSICAL STANDARDS

STANDARD
§164.310(a)(1) - FACILITY ACCESS CONTROLS
Implement policies and procedures to limit physical access to its electronic information systems and the facility or facilities in which they are housed, while ensuring that properly authorized access is allowed.

§164.310(a)(2)(i) - Contingency Operations (Addressable)

Establish (and implement as needed) procedures that allow facility access in support of restoration of lost data under the disaster recovery plan and emergency mode operations plan in the event of an emergency.

Practices for Compliance

Ensure that contingency procedures and authorization (See §164.308(a)(7)(i): Administrative Standards - Contingency Plan) include facility access.

§164.310(a)(2)(ii) - Facility security plan (Addressable)

Implement policies and procedures to safeguard the facility and the equipment therein from unauthorized physical access, tampering, and theft.

Practices for Compliance

  • Systems and electronic media containing ePHI are to be located in physically secure locations. A secure location would minimally be defined as one that is not routinely accessible to the public, particularly if authorized personnel are not always available to monitor security.
  • Secure locations must have physical access controls (card key, door locks, alarms, etc.) that prevent unauthorized entry, particularly during periods outside of normal work hours, or when authorized personnel are not present to monitor security. If logging is available, it should be enabled.
  • Access control systems must be maintained in good working order.
  • Facility security plans must document use of physical access controls.

 

§164.310(a)(2)(iii) - Access control and validation procedures (Addressable)

Implement procedures to control and validate a person’s access to facilities based on their role or function, including visitor control, and control of access to software programs for testing and revision.

Practices for Compliance

  • The access plan for facilities containing ePHI utilizes role- or function-based access control, including for visitors, service providers, and contractors.
  • The role- or function-based access control and validation procedures are closely aligned with the facility security plan.
  • Periodic (at least annual) review and implementation of termination procedures, which may include a review of key inventory or electronic door access, to ensure currency of access authorization.

§164.310(a)(2)(iv) - Maintenance records (Addressable)

Implement policies and procedures to document repairs and modifications to the physical components of a facility which are related to security (for example, hardware, walls, doors, and locks).

Practices for Compliance

  • Develop a procedure for maintaining a record of any maintenance repairs and modifications to physical components of a facility containing ePHI related to security, such as hardware, walls, doors, and locks.
    • Documentation should contain appropriate detail for review, including date, repair and/or modification(s) made, and the contractor.
    • Documentation should be stored securely.
  • Identify parties responsible for recording and maintaining these records.

 


STANDARD
§164.310(b) - WORKSTATION USE
Implement policies and procedures that specify the proper functions to be performed, the manner in which those functions are to be performed, and the physical attributes of the surroundings of a specific workstation or class of workstation that can access ePHI

Practices for Compliance

  • Functions to be performed on workstations containing or accessing ePHI are aligned with roles, such as through the use of a role-based matrix, role-based permissions and access controls.
  • Policies and procedures specify where to place and position workstations to only allow viewing by authorized individuals, as well as additional privacy measures, commensurate with the risk of exposure.
  • Unencrypted ePHI will not be stored on portable electronic devices, including laptops.
  • Storage of ePHI on non-university equipment is forbidden, except in the case of storage by a third party with an approved HIPAA BAA.
  • Remote access of ePHI will utilize secure channels.
  • Additional UCCS practices for the protection of electronic restricted data are available from the Information Security Office.

 


STANDARD
§164.310(c) - WORKSTATION SECURITY
Implement physical safeguards for all workstations that access electronic protected health information, to restrict access to authorized users.

Practices for Compliance

  • All workstations, including laptops, containing ePHI are to be physically secured (locked down).
  • All workstations and electronic devices that contain or access ePHI will be identified, such as laptops, desktop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs).
  • Unencrypted ePHI will not be stored on portable electronic devices, including laptops.
  • If ePHI is stored on removable media, additional physical controls must be implemented, such as ensuring that the device is physically secured or in the physical possession of the responsible party. Encryption is a compensating control for these additional measures.

 


STANDARD
§164.310(d)(1) - DEVICE AND MEDIA CONTROLS
Implement policies and procedures that govern the receipt and removal of hardware and electronic media that contain electronic protected health information into and out of a facility, and the movement of these items within the facility.

§164.310(d)(2)(i) - Disposal (Required)

Implement policies and procedures to address the final disposition of electronic protected health information, and/or the hardware or electronic media on which it is stored.

Practices for Compliance

Ensure that ePHI on hardware and electronic media, including copiers, faxes, printers, etc., is unusable and/or inaccessible prior to disposal, including disposal by a Business Associate [3].

  • When portable media is discarded, it must either be overwritten in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines, http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-88r1.pdf, or physically destroyed, eliminating all possibility that any ePHI contents could be read.
  • When a system is recycled, transferred to another user not authorized for the data, or discarded, all storage devices or all ePHI records must be overwritten in accordance with NIST guidelines (link above), or physically destroyed, rendering all ePHI records unreadable.

§164.310(d)(2)(ii) - Media re-use (Required)

Implement procedures for removal of electronic protected health information from electronic media before the media are made available for re-use.

Practices for Compliance

Ensure that ePHI on hardware and electronic media is unusable and/or inaccessible prior to re-use.

When a system is recycled or transferred to another user not authorized for the data, or otherwise re-used outside of a HIPAA-compliant environment, all storage devices or all ePHI records must be overwritten in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines, http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-88r1.pdf, rendering all ePHI records unreadable.

§164.310(d)(2)(iii) - Accountability (Addressable)

Maintain a record of the movements of hardware and electronic media and any person responsible therefore.

Practices for Compliance

  • The responsible HIPAA entity must maintain a record of the movements of, and person(s) responsible for, hardware and electronic media containing ePHI.
    • Identify all types of hardware and electronic media that must be tracked.
    • Special attention must be paid to portable devices and removable media. These devices should not ordinarily contain ePHI and must be individually identified in the tracking system in order to contain ePHI. Their use must be consistent with the individual’s identified role, such as according to a role-based matrix.
    • This inventory should be physically confirmed at least annually.
    • Tracking system must include a mechanism for documenting the initial assignment of responsibility for devices that contain ePHI, as well as the transfer of authority for these devices.
  • Transport of archival media between the origination point and remote storage location must use a secure method to avoid unauthorized access to the archival media.
  • Loss or theft of electronic equipment or media containing ePHI must immediately be reported according to campus incident response procedures. Also see §164.308(a)(6)(i) - Security incident procedures.

§164.310(d)(2)(iv) - Data backup and storage (Addressable)

Create a retrievable, copy of electronic protected health information, when needed, before movement of equipment.

Practices for Compliance

Create a retrievable, copy of original sources of essential ePHI before moving equipment containing them.

  • Establish a process for documenting or verifying its creation.
  • Retrievable, copies of ePHI must be protected in accordance with these Standards.

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Footnotes:

[3] Also see §164.308(b)(1), Business associate contracts and other arrangements.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

STANDARD
§164.312(a)(1) - ACCESS CONTROL
Implement technical policies and procedures for electronic information systems that maintain electronic protected health information to allow access only to those persons or software programs that have been granted access rights as specified in §164.308(a).

§164.312(a)(2)(i) - Unique user identification (Required)

Assign a unique name and/or number for identifying and tracking user identity.

Practices for Compliance

Ensure the verification of the individual or entity who is authorized to access ePHI and that the identity is correctly bound to a unique user identification (“sign-on”) for access to ePHI.

  • Each User must be provided a unique account, with a unique username/userID and password, for access to ePHI.
  • Generic or shared accounts are not permitted for access to ePHI.

§164.312(a)(2)(ii) - Emergency access procedure (Required)

Establish (and implement as needed) procedures for obtaining necessary electronic protected health information during an emergency.

Practices for Compliance

Establish procedures to ensure that necessary ePHI can be accessed during an emergency.

  • Emergency access procedures may be included in Contingency Plan procedures (see §164.308(a)(7)(i) - Contingency plan).
  • The emergency access procedures shall be written and communicated in advance to multiple individuals within the organization.
  • Emergency access procedures should not rely on the availability of a single individual.
  • Access to emergency procedures should not rely on the availability of local power or network.
  • Identify roles that may require special access during an emergency.
    • Individuals are to require proper ID or other official verification before granting access to unknown or not-normally-authorized individuals in emergency circumstances

§164.312(a)(2)(iii) - Automatic logoff (Addressable)

Implement electronic procedures that terminate an electronic session after a predetermined time of inactivity.

Practices for Compliance

Where possible, terminate electronic sessions after a period of inactivity.

  • Where session termination is not possible, either technically or from a business process perspective, implement automatic workstation lockout as a compensating control.
  • Maximum duration of inactivity prior to session termination or automatic workstation lockout is 10 minutes. Note: The UCCS HIPAA Team may consider requests for exceptions to the 10-minute requirement.

§164.312(a)(2)(iv) - Encryption and decryption (Addressable)

Implement a mechanism to encrypt and decrypt electronic protected health information.

Practices for Compliance

  • Implement appropriate security measures, such as encryption, to protect ePHI from unauthorized access.
  • In situations where encryption is problematic, the alternative compensating controls below must be implemented as appropriate, in consultation with UCCS Information Security Office.
    • An explanation must be provided for why encryption is not being implemented.

Alternative, reasonable and appropriate compensating controls if encryption is not in place for stored ePHI:

  • Access controls, including unique user ID & password authentication, and user profiles (SHS only)
  • Hardening of systems (see §164.308(a)(5)(ii)(B) - Protection from malicious software for details)
  • Physical security for access to facilities and workstations that contain or access ePHI, including appropriate device and media controls
  • Technically enforce complex passwords where possible
  • Enable system security auditing/logging, including monitoring of audit reports/logs
  • Correct configuration of applications to use secure protocols
  • Implement automatic logoff and/or screen lock (see §164.312(a)(2)(iii) - Automatic logoff for details)
  • Ensure secure remote access
  • Implement correctly configured firewalls (hardware and/or software)

 


STANDARD
§164.312(b) - AUDIT CONTROLS
Implement hardware, software, and/or procedural mechanisms that record and examine activity in information systems that contain or use electronic protected health information.

Practices for Compliance


STANDARD
§164.312(c)(1) – INTEGRITY
Implement policies and procedures to protect electronic protected health information from improper alteration or destruction.

§164.312(c)(2) - Mechanism to authenticate electronic protected health information (Addressable)

Implement electronic mechanisms to corroborate that electronic protected health information has not been altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner.

Practices for Compliance

  • Leverage application-specific mechanisms or functionality when available to corroborate that ePHI has not been altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner.
  • Regularly review access logs for unauthorized direct access or administrator/root access to table data containing ePHI.
  • In addition, the following practices are in place as a means of protecting ePHI from being altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner:


STANDARD
§164.312(d) - PERSON OR ENTITY AUTHENTICATION
Implement procedures to verify that a person or entity seeking access to electronic protected health information is the one claimed.

Practices for Compliance

  • Each User must be provided a unique account, with a unique username and password, for access to ePHI.
    • Generic or shared accounts are not permitted for access to ePHI.
    • Passwords for access to ePHI will not be shared by UCCS employees.
    • All passwords providing access to ePHI, including local administrator/root passwords, must meet industry standard best practices.
    • Physically protect.
  • Review, as appropriate, workstation, OS and application access logs, as well as failed or successful changes to account permissions (also see §164.308(a)(1)(ii)(D) - Information system activity review).
  • Systems and applications will not be configured to save passwords.
  • All of the above practices apply to vendors and third parties.

 


STANDARD
§164.312(e)(1) - TRANSMISSION SECURITY
Implement technical security measures to guard against unauthorized access to electronic protected health information that is being transmitted over an electronic communications network.

§164.312(e)(2)(i) - Integrity controls (Addressable)

Implement security measures to ensure that electronically transmitted electronic protected health information is not improperly modified without detection until disposed of.

Practices for Compliance

  • Wired and wireless transmission of ePHI will utilize secure protocols (encryption).
    • All remote access of ePHI must be by secure methods only.
  • Unprotected ePHI shall not be sent via unencrypted email.
    • Note: It is acceptable to send ePHI via email in encrypted, password-protected attachments to known business partners and in response to legitimate requests if no secure channel exists.
  • Received email containing ePHI must be adequately deleted when there is no longer a business need to retain it. Procedures are available in individual HIPAA entity training or from the Information Security Office.
  • Employees must delete or redact ePHI from the body of received email before replying to it.

§164.312(e)(2)(ii) – Encryption (Addressable)

Implement a mechanism to encrypt electronic protected health information whenever deemed appropriate.

See §164.312(e)(2)(i) - Integrity controls, above, for recommended practices.

Note: Also see §164.312(a)(2)(iv) – Encryption and decryption, above, for stored ePHI.

Last modified: August 1, 2017

                                            

Information Security