Humble Fax has been touted for its low cost and easy-to-use service, making it a popular choice for personal fax communication. However, if you will use it in a healthcare setting, it’s crucial to consider if it follows standard security protocols. Let’s evaluate Humble Fax HIPAA compliance and see if it can meet strict privacy and security rules.
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The Role of Faxing in Healthcare Communication
Faxing has long played a significant role in healthcare. It may seem like an outdated form of communication, but two key factors contribute to its relevance. Also, it’s considered a more secure way to transmit protected health information (PHI), such as medical records. Healthcare providers deal with highly sensitive patient information, which requires careful handling. Since the US has strict regulations for transmitting and storing medical information, faxing can help healthcare providers comply and protect patient confidentiality. Thus, Humble Fax compliance is essential for healthcare providers looking for an internet fax solution.
Through fax, healthcare providers can easily send patient health records to one another, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Since fax is technology-agnostic, it can facilitate the exchange of information between healthcare providers regardless of the EHR system they use.
Now that online fax has continued replacing bulky and costly fax machines, many fax service providers offer developer APIs and other integrations to make the technology work across disparate systems. Some also claim HIPAA compliance, ensuring that faxing PHI remains secure and safe from unwanted access.
Is Humble Fax HIPAA-Compliant?
Humble Fax does not explicitly claim HIPAA compliance. Based on its Terms and Conditions, the company is aware of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, its list of features doesn’t show that it has the appropriate safeguards to help you comply with HIPAA rules.
Its Terms and Conditions show awareness of the importance of protecting health information, but it doesn’t say how HumbleFax offers this protection. For instance, under Section B – Fair Usage Policy & Your Responsibilities, Humble Fax states:
“Unless a HIPAA BAA document is signed, you agree not to impose independent obligations upon the company when using its Services to store PHI as defined under HIPAA.”
A BAA or Business Associate Agreement is required under HIPAA. However, the statement from HumbleFax only suggests that users need to sign a BAA with HumbleFax, but nowhere on its website does it mention that the fax service will provide the BAA.
If an internet fax solution is truly HIPAA compliant, it should be able to state this clearly on its publicity materials and other documentation. For instance, iFax assertively promotes itself as a HIPAA-compliant internet fax platform. Other HIPAA-compliant fax services also do so since this is a requirement for their healthcare customers. Some even provide their BAA online.
Moreover, HIPAA compliance goes beyond a BAA. If Humble Fax is HIPAA compliant, it should have the appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards outlined by HIPAA rules. The only security measures on its website are end-to-end encryption, two-factor login, spam blocker, and customer caller ID. These aren’t enough to justify compliance.
Therefore, the short answer to the question, Is Humble Fax HIPAA-compliant, is no. The fax service is not inherently compliant with HIPAA. It must meet all required conditions to ensure the safety and integrity of protected patient data.
Key Features to Look For in a HIPAA-Compliant Fax Solution
HIPAA compliance involves implementing specific privacy and security measures. Here are some of them:
Business Associate Agreement (BAA): The internet fax service should be willing to sign a BAA with covered entities. This is a legal document that specifies the provider’s responsibility when handling PHI.
Secure fax lines: It should offer strong encryption methods to secure data that’s being transmitted or stored. 256-bit AES and TLS 1.2/1.3 are usually the standard encryption methods.
Access controls: Check if the Internet fax solution provides role-based access controls. This feature allows you to manage who can access and send PHI through fax.
User authentication: The provider should implement user authentication methods such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and biometrics.
Audit trails: A HIPAA-compliant fax solution should provide an activity log of user activities to help you monitor potential security risks.
Secure storage: The service should provide secure storage solutions. Storage should also be encrypted and stored in secure locations with high-end infrastructure security.
Redundancy and data recovery: Does the software provide effective data recovery measures in case of natural disasters, system failures, cyberattacks, and other unexpected issues?
Best HIPAA-Compliant Alternatives to Humble Fax
Humble Fax HIPAA compliance isn’t assured, but you can consider its alternatives. As mentioned, iFax offers a HIPAA-compliant cloud-based platform with all the features for convenient paperless faxing. mFax, eFax Corporate, and Concord Cloud Fax are some of the other HIPAA-compliant fax services you can consider.
Remember that HIPAA-compliant internet fax providers offer different features. Some offer mobile apps, custom cover pages, and APIs, which may be missing from other platforms. Carefully evaluate each solution before choosing one for your healthcare organization.
