Compliance Guide
Healthcare Compliance Frameworks
Clear, actionable breakdowns of HIPAA, HITECH, and NIST CSF — the three frameworks every healthcare organization must understand to protect patients and avoid penalties.
Framework Breakdowns
Select a framework to explore its key rules and penalty structure.
HIPAA · 1996
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIPAA establishes national standards for protecting sensitive patient health information. The Security Rule, Privacy Rule, and Breach Notification Rule form the core compliance obligations for covered entities and their business associates.
Key Rules & Requirements
Penalty Structure
Tier 1
$100 – $50,000 per violation
Lack of knowledge
Tier 2
$1,000 – $50,000 per violation
Reasonable cause
Tier 3
$10,000 – $50,000 per violation
Willful neglect, corrected
Tier 4
$50,000 per violation
Willful neglect, not corrected
2024 Compliance Readiness Checklist
Use this checklist to assess your organization's current compliance posture across HIPAA, HITECH, and NIST CSF requirements.
0%
0 of 12 complete
Completed a formal, documented risk analysis within the past 12 months
Implemented a risk management plan addressing identified vulnerabilities
Conducted workforce HIPAA training within the past year
Executed Business Associate Agreements with all applicable vendors
Established and tested breach notification procedures
Verified all business associates are directly HIPAA-compliant
Reviewed and updated BAAs to reflect HITECH direct liability provisions
Confirmed breach notification timelines meet the 60-day HHS requirement
Developed or reviewed a cybersecurity risk management strategy
Maintained a current inventory of hardware, software, and data assets
Implemented multi-factor authentication for access to ePHI systems
Tested incident response and recovery plans within the past 12 months
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