HIPAA: Disaster Zone: Be Prepared with HIPAA-Ready, EHR-Contingency Plans

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by AAPC. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article discusses HIPAA contingency planning for electronic health record disruptions in the context of disasters and cyberattacks. It summarizes federal oversight and research themes from OCR and OIG, references related standards and guidance from NIST and ONC, and describes the broad components that hospital and practice preparedness plans are expected to address. The piece is aimed at healthcare administrators, compliance staff, and coding/billing professionals who need to understand how disaster planning intersects with HIPAA security expectations.

Why This Topic Matters

Organizations that rely on EHRs need contingency planning to support continuity of care and compliance when systems are disrupted. Understanding the article helps readers evaluate whether their practice or hospital preparedness aligns with HIPAA security expectations and related federal guidance.

Article Sections

  1. Background

    Introduces the compliance context for HIPAA contingency planning and the types of disruptions discussed in the article. It also notes the federal agencies and broader technology environment relevant to the topic.

  2. Results

    Summarizes the study approach, including survey and site-visit components, and describes the general findings related to hospital preparedness and EHR disruptions.

  3. What The Report Uncovered

    Describes the broad issues identified in the report regarding the completeness of contingency planning and the impact on EHR operations and patient care.

  4. Five important rules

    Outlines the major policy areas the report says should be addressed in a contingency plan to support HIPAA readiness.

  5. Final thought

    Closes with a general takeaway about technology dependence, EHR adoption, and the need for preparedness planning.

What You Will Learn

  • How HIPAA contingency planning relates to EHR downtime and disaster recovery
  • Which federal organizations and guidance sources are discussed in connection with preparedness
  • The general categories of policies addressed in hospital contingency planning
  • Why disaster preparedness matters for continuity of care and compliance

Who Should Read This

  • Healthcare compliance staff
  • Practice administrators
  • Hospital leaders
  • Health information management professionals
  • Medical billing and coding professionals

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