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HIPAA for Medical Practices

HIPAA Compliance

HIPAA Compliance Solutions

Petronella Technology Group has conducted 500+ onsite HIPAA security risk assessments for medical practices, hospitals, and business associates across the United States. PTG provides end-to-end HIPAA compliance including security risk assessments, privacy compliance, technical safeguard implementation, employee training, and Business Associate Agreements.

Comprehensive HIPAA compliance services for healthcare organizations, covered entities, and business associates in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle area.

Understanding HIPAA Requirements

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires organizations that handle Protected Health Information (PHI) to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect patient data. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces HIPAA through audits, complaint investigations, and breach reviews.

HIPAA compliance is not optional for any organization that creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI. This includes healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses (covered entities), and the vendors, IT companies, and service providers that support them (business associates).

Petronella Technology Group provides end-to-end HIPAA compliance services, from initial risk analysis through ongoing compliance monitoring, to healthcare organizations throughout the Research Triangle area.

The Three HIPAA Rules

  • Privacy Rule: Governs the use and disclosure of PHI, establishes patient rights over their health information, and requires written privacy policies and a designated Privacy Officer.
  • Security Rule: Requires administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect ePHI. This is the rule that drives most IT security requirements, including access controls, encryption, audit logging, and risk management.
  • Breach Notification Rule: Requires notification to affected individuals within 60 days of discovering a breach of unsecured PHI. Breaches affecting 500+ individuals must also be reported to HHS and local media.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

HIPAA penalties range from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with annual caps up to $1.5 million per violation category. The HITECH Act enhanced enforcement authority and gave state attorneys general the power to bring HIPAA enforcement actions.

Beyond financial penalties, HIPAA violations result in mandatory patient notification, public listing on the HHS breach portal, potential criminal charges, class action liability, and lasting reputational damage. OCR has settled enforcement actions resulting in payments exceeding $1 million on numerous occasions.

PTG's HIPAA Compliance Services

  • HIPAA Risk Analysis: Thorough assessment of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks to ePHI per 45 CFR 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)
  • Security Rule Implementation: Technical controls including encryption, access management, audit logging, and endpoint protection
  • Policy and Procedure Development: Comprehensive documentation covering all Security Rule and Privacy Rule requirements
  • Security Awareness Training: HIPAA-specific training for all workforce members on PHI handling and cybersecurity best practices
  • Business Associate Agreement Review: Evaluation and development of BAAs with all vendors who access PHI
  • Breach Response Planning: Incident response plan development and breach notification support
  • Ongoing Compliance Monitoring: Continuous security monitoring, periodic assessments, and compliance maintenance

HIPAA Compliance FAQ

Who is required to comply with HIPAA?

HIPAA applies to covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans, clearinghouses) and their business associates (IT vendors, billing companies, consultants, cloud providers, and any organization that accesses PHI on their behalf).

What is a HIPAA risk analysis?

A comprehensive assessment of potential risks and vulnerabilities to ePHI confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It is the single most important HIPAA compliance requirement and the most frequently cited deficiency in OCR enforcement actions.

Is encryption required under HIPAA?

Encryption is an addressable specification, meaning you must implement it or document why an equivalent alternative is reasonable. In practice, OCR expects encryption of ePHI at rest and in transit in most circumstances.

What must I do after a data breach?

Notify affected individuals within 60 days. For breaches affecting 500+ people, also notify HHS and prominent media. Document the breach, your risk assessment of harm, and your response actions.

How often should HIPAA training occur?

The Security Rule requires training for new workforce members and periodic refreshers. Most organizations conduct annual training, with additional sessions when policies change or after security incidents.

Do small practices need to comply with HIPAA?

Yes. HIPAA applies regardless of organization size. Small practices must implement the same safeguards, though the Security Rule allows flexibility in how safeguards are implemented based on organizational size and complexity.

What is a Business Associate Agreement?

A written contract required between covered entities and business associates that establishes permitted PHI uses, requires appropriate safeguards, and defines breach notification obligations.

How does PTG help healthcare organizations in the Triangle?

Headquartered in Raleigh, PTG provides in-person and remote HIPAA compliance services to healthcare organizations throughout the Research Triangle. We handle everything from initial risk analysis to ongoing compliance monitoring.

Start Your HIPAA Compliance Program

Protect your patients, your practice, and your reputation with comprehensive HIPAA compliance.

Schedule a Free Consultation Call us: 919-348-4912

5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606

Why Choose Petronella Technology Group

Petronella Technology Group has been a trusted IT and cybersecurity partner for businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and the Research Triangle since 2002. Led by CEO Craig Petronella, a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner, CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, and MIT-certified professional in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and compliance, PTG brings deep expertise to every engagement.

With BBB accreditation since 2003 and more than 2,500 businesses served, PTG has the experience and track record to deliver results. Craig Petronella is an Amazon number-one best-selling author of books including "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice," "How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm," and "The Ultimate Guide To CMMC." He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WRAL, and serves as an expert witness for law firms in cybercrime and compliance cases.

PTG holds certifications including CCNA, MCNS, Microsoft Cloud Essentials, and specializes in CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171/172/173, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Our forensic specialties include endpoint and networking cybercrime investigation, data breach forensics, ransomware analysis, data exfiltration investigation, cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis, and SIM swap fraud investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What compliance frameworks does PTG help businesses implement?
PTG helps businesses implement and maintain compliance with a wide range of frameworks including CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171 and 800-172, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards Rule, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001. Our compliance consultants work with organizations in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle to assess current gaps, develop remediation roadmaps, implement required controls, create policy documentation, and prepare for third-party audits or assessments. We take a unified approach that addresses multiple frameworks simultaneously to reduce duplication of effort.
How long does it take to achieve compliance certification?
The timeline varies significantly depending on the framework, organization size, and current security maturity. HIPAA compliance can often be achieved in three to six months with dedicated effort. CMMC Level 2 certification typically requires six to twelve months of preparation. SOC 2 Type II requires a minimum audit observation period of six months. ISO 27001 implementation generally takes six to twelve months. PTG helps organizations develop realistic timelines and prioritize the most critical controls to achieve compliance as efficiently as possible while building a sustainable long-term security program.
What happens if a business fails a compliance audit?
Failing a compliance audit can result in financial penalties, loss of business contracts, reputational damage, and in some cases, legal liability. HIPAA violations can result in fines ranging from one hundred dollars to fifty thousand dollars per violation, up to one and a half million dollars annually per violation category. CMMC non-compliance means losing eligibility for Department of Defense contracts. PCI DSS non-compliance can result in increased transaction fees and loss of payment processing capabilities. PTG helps businesses avoid these consequences through thorough pre-audit preparation, gap assessments, and continuous compliance monitoring.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
SOC 2 Type I evaluates the design of your security controls at a specific point in time, providing a snapshot of your security posture. SOC 2 Type II evaluates both the design and operating effectiveness of your controls over a period of time, typically six to twelve months. Type II is considered more rigorous and valuable because it demonstrates that your controls consistently work as intended over an extended period. Most enterprise clients and partners require SOC 2 Type II reports when evaluating vendors. PTG helps organizations prepare for and maintain both types of SOC 2 compliance.
Can one compliance framework satisfy multiple regulatory requirements?
Yes, many compliance frameworks share overlapping controls and requirements. Implementing NIST 800-171 provides a strong foundation for CMMC 2.0 compliance. ISO 27001 maps to many SOC 2 and HIPAA requirements. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework aligns with virtually all other frameworks. PTG takes a unified compliance approach, helping organizations implement controls that satisfy multiple frameworks simultaneously. This integrated strategy reduces duplication of effort, lowers costs, and creates a more cohesive security program that addresses all applicable regulatory requirements without redundant processes or documentation.

The PTG Compliance Process

Achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance requires a structured, repeatable process. PTG has developed a proven compliance methodology refined over more than two decades of helping businesses navigate complex regulatory requirements. Our process begins with a comprehensive gap assessment that evaluates your current policies, procedures, and technical controls against the specific requirements of your target framework. This assessment identifies exactly where your organization stands and what needs to be done to achieve compliance.

Following the gap assessment, PTG develops a prioritized remediation roadmap that outlines every action item needed to close identified gaps. We categorize items by risk level and effort required, allowing organizations to address the most critical deficiencies first while planning for longer-term improvements. Our consultants work alongside your team to implement technical controls, develop required policies and procedures, create employee training programs, and establish the documentation and evidence collection processes needed to demonstrate compliance during audits and assessments.

Compliance is not a one-time project but an ongoing commitment. Regulations evolve, threats change, and business environments shift. PTG provides continuous compliance monitoring services that track your compliance status in real time, alert you to emerging gaps, and ensure that your security controls remain effective. We conduct regular internal audits, update policies as regulations change, and prepare your organization for external audits or assessments. Our goal is to make compliance a natural part of your business operations rather than a periodic scramble to meet audit deadlines.

For organizations subject to multiple compliance frameworks, PTG takes a unified approach that maps overlapping requirements across frameworks. Rather than implementing separate programs for each regulation, we build a comprehensive security and compliance program that satisfies multiple requirements simultaneously. This integrated approach reduces costs, eliminates redundant processes, and provides a clearer picture of your overall security and compliance posture, making it easier to manage ongoing obligations and demonstrate compliance to auditors, clients, and business partners.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Petronella Technology Group, cybersecurity is not just about installing antivirus software or setting up a firewall. We take a comprehensive, layered approach to security that addresses people, processes, and technology. Our methodology is built on industry-standard frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK, ensuring that your security program is aligned with the same standards used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current security posture, followed by a prioritized remediation roadmap that addresses your most critical risks first.

Our security operations team provides continuous monitoring through our Security Information and Event Management platform, which correlates events across your entire environment to detect threats in real time. When a potential threat is identified, our analysts investigate and respond immediately, often containing threats before they can cause damage. This proactive approach dramatically reduces the risk of successful cyberattacks and provides the rapid response capability that is essential in today's threat landscape.

We believe that employee awareness is one of the most important layers of defense. Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches, and no amount of technology can fully compensate for untrained employees. PTG provides comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate your team about phishing, social engineering, password security, data handling, and incident reporting. Our training programs include simulated phishing campaigns that test employee readiness and identify areas where additional education is needed, helping organizations build a strong security culture from the ground up.

Beyond prevention, PTG prepares organizations for the reality that breaches can occur despite the best defenses. Our incident response planning services help businesses develop, document, and test response procedures so that when an incident does occur, your team knows exactly what to do. From tabletop exercises to full incident simulations, we ensure that your organization is prepared to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing damage, preserving evidence, and meeting all regulatory notification requirements within required timeframes.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Petronella Technology Group today for a free consultation. Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle since 2002.

919-348-4912 Schedule a Free Consultation

5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606