As I mentioned in my blog item of June 13, 2014, regarding adopting a HIPAA compliant text messaging policy, as with the increase in the use of email and patient portals, more and more covered entities are using text messaging to communicate either among clinicians or with consumers. And as with email and patient portals, text messaging has benefits. Further, as with email and patient portals, text messaging also poses risks to the security of protected health information (“PHI”) under HIPAA. Because of the risks of email and patient portals, I advise my clients to adopt and implement informed consents and user agreements for email and patient portals.
So now, I have drafted a new sample text messaging informed consent and user agreement to help you with your HIPAA compliance efforts. It is available in the Premium Member section of the Veterans Press website, along with the sample patient portal informed consent and user agreement.
Also, again, as a reminder, if you bought the HIPAA Compliance Library that includes my 5th edition of the Compliance Guide to HIPAA and the DHHS Regulations, you received with it a one-year free subscription to the Premium Member section. If you need help setting up your account to access the Premium Member section or want to arrange to buy a one-year subscription, please call our marketing director, Patrick R. Head II, toll-free at 855-341-8783 or email him at patrick@veteranspress.com.
