Understanding HIPAA Compliance
As a HIPAA-aware IT provider based in Colorado Springs, Stepping Forward Technology partners with medical and dental practices, clinics, and healthcare vendors to secure their systems and keep them audit-ready.
What Is HIPAA and who needs it?
HIPAA, short for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a U.S. federal law that sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient health information (PHI). With the rise of electronic health records and cloud-based healthcare systems, HIPAA compliance is more critical than ever—especially for medical practices, clinics, and their IT service providers.
- Healthcare providers (doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.)
- Health insurance companies
- Vendor or IT providers that process or store PHI
Why does HIPAA compliance matter?
Protect
confidentiality
HIPAA protects patient records and applies to any information that can identify a patient.
Secure patient
health data
HIPAA safeguards electronic health data (ePHI) and gives patients more control over their information.
Reduce fraud
and abuse
HIPAA provides a framework for sharing medical data and can simplify transitions.
Helping you meet HIPAA compliance standards
Secure infrastructure
We can help protect ePHI from internal and external threats and prevent catastrophic downtime or loss of data.
Risk assessments
We conduct thorough Security Risk Assessments (SRA) and provide supportive evidence documentation to ensure you meet HIPAA requirements.
Employee training
We'll help train your employees in the rules of HIPAA compliance and provide ongoing hands-on support.
HIPAA penalties
Non-compliance can result in:
Frequently Asked Questions about HIPAA
What information does HIPAA protect?
HIPAA safeguards Protected Health Information (PHI)—any data that can be tied to a patient’s identity or medical care. This includes:
- Full names, addresses, and birth dates
- Social Security numbers and insurance details
- Diagnoses, lab results, treatment records
- Any information connected to both identity and health
Who must follow HIPAA?
HIPAA regulations apply to:
- Covered Entities:
- Healthcare providers like doctors, dentists, hospitals, and pharmacies
- Health insurance companies and health plans
- Business Associates:
- Any vendor or IT provider that processes or stores PHI on behalf of a covered entity. Examples include billing firms, data centers, cloud platforms, and managed IT service providers.
What are the four key HIPAA rules?
- Privacy Rule: Limits when PHI can be shared and with whom
- Security Rule: Requires administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for ePHI
- Breach Notification Rule: Mandates reporting of any PHI data breaches
- Enforcement Rule: Outlines penalties for violations, including financial and criminal consequences
Does HIPAA still matter in 2025?
Yes! From telehealth and mobile health apps to remote access and cloud storage, healthcare data is more digital—and more vulnerable—than ever. HIPAA provides a foundation for protecting patient privacy, building trust, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Why was HIPAA created?
As healthcare providers began adopting digital systems in the 1990s, new risks emerged around the security and privacy of patient information. In 1996, the U.S. passed a federal law to set a national standard for protecting sensitive patient health information (PHI).
What does HIPAA stand for?
HIPAA is short for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a U.S. federal law passed in 1996.
