Tips For Becoming A HIPAA Consultant

By Lora Jones


HIPAA, which stands for The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a United States act made to provide guidelines about health privacy standards. The act was made in order to prevent patients medical records from being accessed by people not authorized within the medical industry. A HIPAA consultant is a professional who is trained on the expertise and knowledge of the law. Such a professional can work with stakeholders in the healthcare industry like doctors, clinicians, and insurance companies offering medical cover. Below are helpful information on how interested people can become consultants.

It is vital to bear in mind that there are no particular guidelines on the entry level requirements for becoming such a consultant. Taking into account the professional nature and complexity of this kind of work, a bachelors degree would do be a good choice. The degree should include training and coursework focusing on the Act to prepare one to enter the field.

For those with a degree but no background or education in the field, they can consider enrolling in a professional course for training. There are numerous training programs out there, especially online courses that they can explore and research. Community colleges or vocational schools also offer certificate programs.

Anyone wishing to become a consultant should understand that the duties will include teaching others about the Act. Consultants receive training on dates of compliance, privacy rules, and possible penalties for not complying with HIPAA regulations. The training also includes coursework relating to how the Acts requirements affect procedures, policies and processes in organizations that administer and maintain the medical records of patients.

More training should provide an overview of and encompass how the Act affects the way in which health care organizations monitor and maintain compliance with respect to their patients confidentiality and privacy. The student will learn all the numerous components of Act including which data is protected, authorized disclosures and uses, organizational options and administrative requirements.

HIPAA regulatory and statutory background training should be inclusive of coursework dealing with the general principle of disclosures and uses, enforcement and penalties for failure to comply with state laws. There are additional sections that include minors and other personal representatives.

Any consultant wannabe should take time to attend professional seminars and conferences that discuss matters of the act. Attending such seminars provides them with a chance to meet and share ideas with other professionals who work in the field. In addition, the wannabe will access a wide range of professional tolls and resources.

The other tip involves registering with a professional association catering for health care professionals who specialize in the Act consultation. Some of the associations offer opportunities for employment as well as resume tips.

A potential HIPAA consultant is advised to visit several job boards found on the internet and register with them in order to receive regular updates. By doing so, they will be able to post their curriculum vitae online, hence making them more visible to firms that are actively recruiting consultants. However, they should ensure that they have all the necessary requirements and qualifications.




About the Author: