Now, with the increases in breach reporting and the new random audit program under way, enforcement of HIPAA is something that every HIPAA entity and business associate needs to be aware of and prepared for, by examining why prior enforcement occurred and what could be done to prevent such problems. HIPAA Compliance requires that you be prepared to handle Protected Health Information properly and follow the requirements in the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules. If there is a problem that comes to the surface, through a complaint, breach, or audit, an enforcement action can result.

Every entity under the HIPAA regulations needs to know why the enforcement actions took place and what could have been done differently to prevent the violations that led to enforcement, so they can avoid those issues and their significant impact. Failure to do so can lead to financial settlements, fines, and/or corrective action plans that can severely impact your organization.