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A Holistic Approach to Compliance: Leveraging PCI DSS and More to Secure Patient Payments

By July 16, 2024October 2nd, 2024No Comments

A holistic approach to medical self-pay billing security practices transcends the basic requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). For medical practices, this broad strategy is vital for effectively addressing a full spectrum of regulations and standards, safeguarding everything from payment card data to personal health information.

The February 2024 cyberattack on Change Healthcare is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of non-compliance and insufficient security measures. This attack led to significant cash flow issues, service disruptions, and compromised patient care and data.1 Similarly, the July 2022 OneTouchPoint (OTP) data breach exposed information from over 35 organizations and more than 2.6 million individuals due to unauthorized server access.2

At PatientFocus, we recognize the importance of robust compliance strategies that extend well beyond PCI DSS to fortify security and build patient trust. Our measures include HIPAA, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and ethical hacking practices, creating a resilient framework that covers a broader scope of regulatory requirements, thus enhancing both data protection and patient confidence.

Integrating Comprehensive Compliance Measures

PatientFocus integrates PCI DSS with HIPAA, CFPB, TCPA, and ethical hacking to forge a comprehensive and integrated approach to data security and compliance. This involves leveraging specific requirements from these standards to address potential vulnerabilities and regulatory mandates comprehensively:

PCI DSS and DTMF Masking: Our approach to secure patient payment processing includes the employment of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) masking technology, which is essential for PCI DSS compliance. This technology safeguards cardholder data during phone transactions by replacing entry tones with flat tones, effectively shielding sensitive information from potential eavesdropping.

Expanding Beyond PCI DSS: Our patient data protection strategy extends beyond PCI DSS to include rigorous HIPAA compliance, ensuring the safeguarding of patient information. Additionally, we adhere to CFPB and TCPA regulations to guarantee communication consent and transparency, and we strive for ISO 27001 certification to underscore our commitment to international information security standards.

Ethical Hacking for Enhanced Security: Certified Ethical Hackers (CEH) are professionals authorized by the EC-Council to assess the security of computer systems using penetration testing techniques. Our healthcare CEH use their skills to proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in our systems. By employing the same techniques as malicious hackers in a controlled manner, they enhance our defenses against potential security threats.

Adopting a Comprehensive Compliance Strategy

Adopting a unified compliance strategy enhances the security and privacy of patient data, boosting patient trust and satisfaction. This not only bolsters a practice’s reputation but also positions it as a credible and trustworthy entity in the healthcare sector. By protecting sensitive information effectively, we demonstrate our commitment to stakeholders, benefiting both our organization and the patients we serve.

Investing in a solid compliance framework can also lead to better financial outcomes. Non-compliance with PCI DSS, HIPAA, and CFPB can result in hefty fines; however, integrating practices like ethical hacking helps us identify and address security weaknesses proactively, reducing the potential financial impact of breaches.

PatientFocus’ proactive and comprehensive compliance approach ensures adherence to a broad range of regulations and standards, enhancing the security of diverse data types. By managing patient payments with a focus on security and a positive patient experience, we help healthcare practices navigate the complexities of billing, allowing them to focus on what matters most: patient care.

Ready to see how PatientFocus can ensure compliance and security for your practice’s patient pay billing? Let’s talk.

Sources

  1. American Medical Association (2024, May 20). Change Healthcare cyberattack. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/sustainability/change-healthcare-cyberattack#:~:text=It%20is%20also%20important%20to,to%20be%20particularly%20hard%20hit.
  2. (2022, September 7). Additional Orgs Report Aftermath of OneTouchPoint Data Breach. Health IT Security. healthitsecurity.com