Hitrust vs Hipaa: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions

If you're a healthcare organization or a business that handles sensitive patient data, you're likely familiar with the importance of data protection regulations. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a well-established standard for safeguarding patient health information.

HIPAA has been the gold standard for healthcare data protection since 1996, requiring covered entities to implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI).

However, with the increasing use of cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT), a new standard has emerged: HITRUST. HITRUST is a widely adopted framework for managing risk and ensuring compliance with multiple regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.

HITRUST provides an additional layer of security and compliance for healthcare organizations, especially those that handle sensitive data in cloud environments.

HITRUST is a framework that facilitates compliance with other leading information security standards, including the International Organization for Standardization 27000-series standards and the National Institute of Standards and Technology framework for managing cybersecurity risks.

It's a comprehensive and robust framework that includes HIPAA requirements for covered entities and business associates that collect, create or transmit health information.

The current version of this framework, HITRUSTCSF v11.1.0, was released in January 2023 and became effective as of April 4, 2023.

HITRUST certification is not mandated by governments, but some of the largest health insurance payers require that all vendors be HITRUST certified as of 2016.

The HITRUST CSF Certification offers peace of mind that your patient's confidential, private data is well-secured.

HIPAA compliance comes with significant upfront costs, but ongoing expenses are usually limited once the necessary safeguards are in place. These costs include staff training, policy development, encryption, access controls, and audit trails.

HITRUST, on the other hand, has higher upfront costs due to its more extensive control requirements and independent validation. The HITRUST assessment process can be costly, with fees starting at around $30,000 for the initial assessment.

Staff resources, technology upgrades, and assessor and certification fees are all key cost factors to consider when choosing between HIPAA and HITRUST. Penalties for non-compliance can be even higher, with civil and criminal penalties possible.

Here's a rough breakdown of the costs associated with HITRUST:

Despite the higher upfront costs, HITRUST can provide better risk management and potentially lower costs in the long run by reducing your exposure.

HITRUST offers cost and time savings by providing a clear framework for compliance. This can help reduce the risk of costly audits and penalties.

The upfront costs of HITRUST certification may be higher, but it can lead to lower ongoing costs in the long run. This is because HITRUST certification lasts for two years, so you won't need to pay for assessments as frequently.

HITRUST requires more extensive control requirements and independent validation, which can be time-consuming and costly. However, this process can help identify and address security gaps before they become major issues.

Here are some key cost factors to consider:

By achieving HITRUST certification, you can demonstrate your organization's commitment to security and compliance, which can be a major selling point for clients and partners.

The benefits of implementing HITRUST in your organization are numerous. One of the key advantages is that it incorporates existing standards like HIPAA, NIST, ISO, FTC, Red Flag, and more within your organization.

By using HITRUST, you can scale controls based on your unique organization needs, size, and type. This means you can tailor your security measures to fit your specific situation.

HITRUST offers clear and actionable guidelines, making it easier to understand and implement the necessary security protocols. This can save you time and resources in the long run.

The HITRUST framework is designed to evolve according to changes in the healthcare industry, ensuring that your security measures stay up-to-date and effective.

HITRUST certification can also provide tangible cost and time savings by demonstrating that your organization is well-prepared for potential inspections.

Here are some of the specific benefits of HITRUST:

By achieving HITRUST certification, you can gain greater visibility of your overall control framework and a better understanding of how they overlap with other regulations. This can make it easier to navigate audits and inspections.

HIPAA compliance is required by law, but it doesn't have a dedicated certification. This is where HITRUST CSF comes in - it's a certification framework that combines HIPAA requirements with other leading privacy and security standards and frameworks.

The main advantage of HITRUST is its streamlined framework, which makes it easier to manage compliance. Organizations that meet the standards of the HITRUST CSF or obtain certification meet all requirements for compliance with HIPAA and other industry-leading standards.

The process of obtaining HITRUST certification involves several phases, including preparation and remediation, evaluation, and review. This can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months for the preparation phase alone.

To become HITRUST certified, you'll need to dedicate time and resources, as it's a time-consuming task. You'll also need to update and renew your policies and standards often, and accessing the tools and reports required for implementation can be costly.

HIPAA and HITRUST are not the same, and certification by HITRUST does not guarantee compliance with HIPAA. HIPAA defines what organizations must do to protect patient information, while HITRUST provides a framework to help organizations meet those requirements.

Here are some key differences between HIPAA and HITRUST:

Note that HITRUST certification is not a one-time process, but rather an ongoing requirement to ensure ongoing compliance with HIPAA and other industry standards.

HITRUST and HIPAA are not interchangeable. HITRUST goes beyond HIPAA and includes NIST, ISO, FTC, and other globally recognized security guidelines.

HIPAA only outlines the policies that organizations must follow, whereas HITRUST includes HIPAA safeguards alongside security and risk management guidelines from various sources.

Some of the additional guidelines included in HITRUST are from the International Organization for Standardization, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.

Here are some of the key differences between HITRUST and HIPAA:

This means that HITRUST provides a more comprehensive approach to security and risk management, covering a broader range of industries and regulatory requirements.

In the healthcare industry, having a HITRUST CSF-certified communication system is a game-changer. It makes your organization appear trustworthy and dedicated to safeguarding patients' confidential data.

Industry leaders like major healthcare organizations are now requiring HITRUST security frameworks to be deployed, as seen in a letter to business associates on February 8th. This is a clear indication that HITRUST CSF certification is the new standard.

Companies are now expected to ask themselves what changes they need to implement to achieve and maintain HITRUST control system framework certification, in order to validate their performance and dedication.

Implementing a HITRUST CSF-certified communication system can make your organization appear trustworthy and dedicated. This is because it signifies that your organization went the extra mile to safeguard and protect patients' confidential data.

Using a HITRUST CSF-certified solution is a sign of commitment to security and compliance. In fact, five major healthcare organizations recently passed a letter to business associates outlining the importance and need to deploy HITRUST security frameworks.

Having a HITRUST CSF certification can give your organization a competitive edge. It shows that you're proactive in managing and minimizing risk. This is especially true for organizations that process sensitive data, as it can be a major selling point for stakeholders.

Stakeholders and industry leaders are increasingly looking for HITRUST CSF certification to validate a company's performance and dedication. In fact, most stakeholders now look for this certification to gauge a company's credibility.

Obtaining HITRUST certification can benefit organizations in every industry, not just healthcare. Even those that don't process PHI or ePHI can benefit from upgrading and documenting policies, formalizing procedures, and implementing security controls.

In the world of healthcare, one size doesn't fit all. Becoming a HIPAA-covered entity boasting HITRUST certification provides you with the corresponding security value and validation.

The HITRUST framework tailors control depending on your organization’s size, complexity, type, and unique business needs.

With a HITRUST CSF-certified vendor, you can rest assured you’ll find controls that meet your needs rather than requiring you to adapt to pre-established rules.

HITRUST offers a range of features that make it an attractive option for organizations looking to improve their data security and compliance.

One of the key features of HITRUST is the HITRUST CSF Assessment Preview, which provides in-depth knowledge about the implications of new security threats. This helps organizations stay ahead of emerging risks and protect their sensitive data.

HITRUST's Improved Reporting feature allows organizations to view compliance reporting from various authoritative and trustworthy sources. This streamlines the compliance process and saves time.

The Single-Page Assessment View provides a generalized view of the questionnaire, making it easier for healthcare organizations to navigate the assessment process.

Aggregated Respondent Answers effectively and accurately aggregates scoring for assessment questions, providing a clear picture of an organization's compliance status.

Advanced Analytics and Dashboards allow organizations to create customized charts and dashboards, providing valuable insights into their compliance and security posture.

Here are the main features of HITRUST: