Why Healthcare Needs Both HIPAA & Accessibility
HIPAA: Data Security
HIPAA requires protection of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) through:
- ✓ Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- ✓ Access controls and authentication
- ✓ Audit logs and monitoring
- ✓ Business Associate Agreements (BAAs)
- ✓ Breach notification procedures
Penalties: $100 - $50,000 per violation, up to $1.5M annually
Section 508: Equal Access
Section 508 and ADA require accessible patient portals so people with disabilities can:
- ✓ Schedule appointments independently
- ✓ Access medical records and test results
- ✓ Communicate with providers securely
- ✓ Request prescription refills
- ✓ Pay bills and manage insurance
Risk: Civil rights lawsuits, OCR complaints, settlement costs $50K-$400K
The Intersection: Accessible Security
Healthcare orgs face a unique challenge: security measures (CAPTCHAs, complex passwords, time-limited sessions) can create accessibility barriers. Our integrated approach ensures HIPAA compliance without excluding patients with disabilities.
Who Needs HIPAA + Accessibility?
🏥 Healthcare Providers
- • Hospitals and health systems
- • Physician practices and clinics
- • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- • Mental health and substance abuse facilities
- • Nursing homes and assisted living
💻 Health IT Vendors
- • EHR/EMR platform vendors
- • Patient portal providers
- • Telehealth platforms
- • Health information exchanges
- • Practice management software
💊 Related Healthcare
- • Pharmacies and pharmacy chains
- • Medical laboratories
- • Medical imaging centers
- • Health insurance companies
- • Healthcare clearinghouses
🎓 Academic Medical
- • Teaching hospitals
- • Medical schools
- • Research institutions (human subjects)
- • University health centers
Integrated Compliance Assessment
HIPAA Security Review
- • ePHI data flow mapping
- • Encryption verification
- • Access control audit
- • BAA compliance check
Accessibility Testing
- • WCAG 2.1 AA audit
- • Screen reader testing
- • Keyboard navigation
- • Patient portal flows
Integration Analysis
- • Accessible authentication
- • CAPTCHA alternatives
- • Session timeout warnings
- • Error handling
Deliverables
- ✓ HIPAA security assessment report
- ✓ WCAG 2.1 AA compliance report
- ✓ Integrated remediation roadmap
- ✓ Accessible security recommendations
- ✓ Section 508 VPAT (if applicable)
- ✓ OCR compliance documentation
- ✓ Patient communication templates
- ✓ Training materials for staff
HIPAA + Accessibility Package Pricing
Bundled assessment saves 20-30% vs. separate audits
Small Practice
1-5 providers
Multi-Location Practice
5-50 providers
Related Services
Section 508 Compliance
Federal contractors and healthcare facilities receiving federal funds
WCAG 2.1/2.2 Compliance
Technical standard for healthcare accessibility
Healthcare Accessibility Training
Train clinical, IT, and admin staff on accessible patient experiences
Ongoing HIPAA + Accessibility Monitoring
Continuous compliance for evolving patient portals