PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2003
"objective risk management services"
Dallas, Texas - The Integrity Center, Inc., Dallas, Texas has announced that companies who
still need to comply with the HIPAA "Privacy Rule" for their personnel records now have an
easy way to accomplish that online.
As of April 14, 2003, the "Privacy Rule" of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996 (HIPAA) makes it ILLEGAL to transmit Protected Health Information (PHI) via email
that is not encrypted. The commercial encryption of email as a practical matter is very
inconvenient. The Privacy Rule generally prevents the disclosure of PHI by "covered entities"
which also includes most employers that sponsor benefit plans. The Privacy Rule requires
covered entities to take reasonable steps to limit the use or disclosure of PHI to the minimum
number of people necessary to accomplish an intended purpose.
One of many instances when employers receive PHI electronically is during their pre-employment
background checking tasks and during the maintenance of employee files. Such things as Drug
Test results, and other PHI can no longer be delivered by email to save a supplier time and
money. The supplier must use secure communications. While that can mean a dedicated fax
line, today it generally means a secure and encrypted Internet connection - rare for most
background checking or drug testing and health information suppliers.
The Integrity Center, Inc., Dallas, Texas, has been delivering background checking PHI, and
maintaining employee files, via secure encrypted Internet connections since 1996, and is
prepared to help any company get their online pre-employment Background Checking and online
Employee Files quickly and inexpensively into HIPAA compliance.
The Integrity Center, Inc., founded in 1984,
and based in Dallas, TX, is
a firm recognized nationally for FCRA and HIPAA compliant online employee background checking,
employee files, and risk management, for business, industry and government. The Integrity
Center and its website are a rich source of current information regarding the laws, procedures,
and pitfalls in all areas of background checking and personnel records.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Director of Media Relations
The Integrity Center, Inc.
(972) 484-6140
info@integctr.com
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