One of the pillars upon which the entire US healthcare industry is founded is trust. Beyond trust, some may say that it’s about privacy and confidentiality. Understanding the sensitive nature of patient-data, maintaining strict confidentiality of patient records, complying with the stringent demands of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that, among other things, requires the protection and confidential handling of protected health information – are some of the key elements of working in the healthcare sector.

Professional medical billing companies that assist formal healthcare organizations by providing specialized billing, coding, claim verification & authorization, and other revenue cycle management services, understand this well. In fact, every healthcare business process outsourcing company out there, claims to have had all the bases covered when it comes to data protection and security.

Unfortunately, the real picture is not such a happy one. While most companies claim to have taken measures for protecting the confidentiality of their clients’ data, they often fail to deliver on their promises in reality. The reasons could range from inadequate and outdated precautions to failing to adhere to security with due diligence and sincerity.

A simple yet highly effective way to cut through the confusion and be sure is to choose a company with ISO 27001:2013 certification.

ISO 27001 provides a management framework for assessing and treating risks, whether cyber-oriented or otherwise, that can damage business, governments, and even the fabric of a country’s national infrastructure.

There are a number of benefits of this international standard. Here are a few of them:

♦ It provides good practice guidance on designing, implementing and auditing Information Security Management Systems to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information
♦ It is designed to ensure the selection of adequate and proportionate security controls that protect information assets and give confidence to interested parties
♦ The Information Security Systems are reviewed and monitored on an on-going basis to ensure continual good practices.

Most would say it is imperative to look for this essential certification when choosing your next medical billing outsourcing company. Some consider this a more important aspect of the services offered than an attractive price or quick turnaround time.