BUSINESS ASSOCIATE CONTRACTS: UPDATES ARE REQUIRED

All healthcare providers who qualify as a Covered Entity (CE) must be in compliance with the changes to the HIPAA regulations as brought forth by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) no later than February 17, 2010.  One of the changes due to ARRA is the new Business Associate (BA) rules that require updated BA contracts.  Each CE should review their current BA contracts as well as identify any new BAs with which you now do business, but do not have completed BA contracts.  Either new BA contracts can be sent to each business associate or you can create an addendum to any existing contracts. Read full article.