KnowHIPAA.com and KnowCOBRA.com are designed to help employers, insurance companies, HMOs, TPAs, agents and brokers comply with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Standards and COBRA Regulations. 

Trust KnowHIPAA.com and KnowCOBRA.com to help you understand what you really need to know.

News

2/11/10 - KnowHIPAA.com publishes two articles on how the HITECH changes to HIPAA effect insurance agents and TPAs.

Bob Radecki, the editor of KnowHIPAA.com, has published two articles in the Health Insurance Underwriter magazine that discuss how the HITCH changes to HIPAA impact insurance agents and TPAs. 

Download the articles here:

1/9/10 - KnowHIPAA.com Announces Business Associate HIPAA Certification Program.

Business associates who successfully complete the KnowHIPAA.com compliance process receive a HIPAA Business Associate Certification. The certification demonstrates that the business associate has undergone a rigorous compliance process.  For more information go to our solutions page.

1/5/10 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Requires Agents to Have HIPAA Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures

Blue Cross Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSM) has included a requirement in its contract effective 2/1/2010 that all brokers and agents must have written HIPAA privacy and security policies and procedures and must make them available to BCBSM upon request.

12/22/09 - Business Associates Directly Subject to HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules

A portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) called the HITECH Act contains significant changes to HIPAA. Many of the changes will require all covered entities to update their policies and procedures. However, one area of HITECH is of particular importance to health insurance consultants, brokers and agents. 

Effective February 17th, 2010, business associates will be directly subject to HIPAA Privacy and Security provisions. Prior to HITECH, brokers were obligated contractually to implement certain procedures when they signed business associate agreements, but not directly regulated by HIPAA. Click here for information on how KnowHIPAA.com can help get your organization into compliance.

12/21/09 - COBRA Subsidy Information

COBRA Subsidy Extended Through February 2010

On Saturday, December 19th, the Congress passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R.3326), and on Monday, President Obama signed it into law. H.R. 3326 contains an extension of the existing COBRA subsidy originally enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For more information on the new rules go to the KnowCOBRA.com page.

Other Resources

Complete HIPAA Privacy and Security Manuals and Policies for Business Associates

Comprehensive HIPAA compliance manuals for Insurance Agencies and Brokerages, including sample policies and support service from KnowHIPAA.com

HIPAA Security Series from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Go to the KnowHIPAA.com page to download copies of the HIPAA Security Series from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Department of Labor COBRA Notice Regulations and Model Notices

Effective for Plan Years Beginning after November 25th, 2004. For more information and copies of Model DOL notices, go to the KnowCOBRA.com page.