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Standards & Vendors

Review the break down of standards & multiple vendors to assist with SECURETexas multiple vendors to assist with you.
Vendors

SECURETexas Standards

Standards for Confidential Information In Any Form:
Standards for Providers, Facilities & Services:
Standards for Specific Types of Individuals

HIPAA

nThe Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule) establishes a set of national standards for the use and disclosure of an individual’s health information – called protected health information – by covered entities, as well as standards for providing individuals with privacy rights to understand and control how their health information is used.

 

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The Security Rule applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and to any health care provider who transmits health information in electronic form in connection with a transaction for which the Secretary of HHS has adopted standards under HIPAA (the “covered entities”) and to their business associates. 

 

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The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, 45 CFR §§ 164.400-414, requires HIPAA covered entities and their business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured protected health information. Similar breach notification provisions implemented and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), apply to vendors of personal health records and their third party service providers, pursuant to section 13407 of the HITECH Act.

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Texas Law/Acts

Texas Medical Records Privacy Acts

Texas Identity Theft Enforcement & Protection Act

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SECURETexas Vendors 

The Texas Health Services Authority (the Authority) partners with multiple vendors to assist with SECURETexas Certifications.

SECURETexas Preferred Vendor

Citiscape IT, P.C.

Learn more here: citiscapeit.com

Jacobian Engineering.

Jackson Lewis, P.C.

Learn more here: jacksonlewis.com

Latitude Information Security

Learn more here: latitudeinfosec.com

NCC Group Security Services

Learn more here: https://www.nccgroup.com/

Online Business Services

Learn more here: obsglobal.com

Orbzen

Learn more here: orbzen.com

PwC

Learn more here: pws.com

Third Rock

Learn more here:thirdrock.com

SECURETexas Frameworks

The Authority recognizes the following frameworks as meeting some or all of the assessment requirements for SECURETexas Certification.

Recognized Frameworks

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

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Certification FAQs

Use the accordions to learn about frequently asked questions about SECURETexas. These questions cover a wide range of topics. If your question can not be answer please contact our team with the button below.

What is SECURETexas?

SECURETexas is a state program administered by the THSA offering health care entities privacy and security certification for compliance with state and federal medical privacy and security laws.

Why certify through SECURETexas?

See the benefits above!

How much does SECURETexas Certification cost?

How does my organization become SECURETexas certified?

  1. Are you eligible? Determine whether your organization is an entity who should get certified.
  2. Review the certification standards. Does your entity have policies and procedures covering each of the SECURETexas certification standards?
  3. Conduct a SECURETexas assessment. Contact one of our SECURETexas Preferred Vendors to conduct an assessment of your organization’s compliance against the SECURETexas standards.
  4. Certify your assessment. Once the preferred vendor completes your assessment, the vendor will refer the assessment to the THSA for review and certification.
  5. Re-Certify. SECURETexas certification lasts for two years, at which time the covered entity will re-assess and re-certify their compliance with the SECURETexas standards.

How does this relate to or reduce HIPAA fines and penalties?

  • Between $100-$50,000 for each violation up to a maximum of $1,500,000 for all violations of an identical provision in a calendar year, if the entity did not know of the violation.
  • Between $1,000-$50,000 for each violation up to a maximum of $1,500,000 for all violations of an identical provision in a calendar year, if there was a reasonable cause for the violation.
  • Between $10,000-$50,000 for each violation up to a maximum of $1,500,000 for all violations of an identical provision in a calendar year, if there was a willful neglect but the organization too corrective action.
  • $50,000 for each violation up to a maximum of $1,500,000 for all violations of an identical provision in a calendar year, if there was willful neglect and the organization did not take corrective action.

How does this relate or reduce Texas fines and penalties?

  • $5,000 for each violation that occurs in one year, regardless of how long the violation continues during that year, committed negligently.
  • $25,000 for each violation that occurs in one year, regardless of how long the violation continues during that year, committed knowingly or intentionally.
  • $250,000 for each violation in which the covered entity knowingly or intentionally used PHI for financial gain.
  • Up to $1,500,000 if the court finds that the violations have occurred with a frequency to constitute a pattern or practice.

However, pursuant to Sections 181.201 and 181.205, Health & Safety Code, when imposing civil or administrative penalties against a Texas covered entity for a violation of the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act, the court must consider six factors, including whether the covered entity maintained the SECURETexas certification at the time of the violation. Furthermore, SECURETexas may help prove another mitigating factor – the covered entity’s compliance history – that will reduce the amount of the civil or administrative penalty. The results of the certification can act as evidence of the covered entity’s compliance with the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act.

MORE ON SECURETexas CERTIFICATION

What is SECURETexas

If you or your organization uses, stores and/or exchanges protected health information (PHI), you are considered a “covered entity” as defined by Texas Medical Records Privacy Act and would benefit from certification.

Should I Get Certified?

If you or your organization uses, stores and/or exchanges protected health information (PHI), you are considered a “covered entity” as defined by Texas Medical Records Privacy Act and would benefit from certification.

Certification Pricing

SECURETexas certification pricing is based on the covered entity’s number of employees. Please note that certification pricing is in addition to the price paid to the SECURETexas preferred vendor for assessment services.