The number of virtual consultations is increasing, particularly after the pandemic, as it offers the convenience of connecting with a doctor from the comfort of the patient. However, alongside this advantage, there is a need to ensure the safety of healthcare communications, protect patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI), establish continuous communication in a manner compliant with HIPAA regulations, and address various other aspects.
After carefully assessing various factors and parameters, we have compiled a list of the best HIPAA Chat API providers in this blog. This can help individuals simplify the process of organizing crucial information and safeguarding electronically protected health information (ePHI).
What is HIPAA?
In recent years, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) has gained increased attention due to the rise in health data breaches caused by cyber attacks and ransomware attacks on health insurers and providers. This United States legislation is aimed at ensuring data privacy and security provisions for protecting medical information.
On Aug. 21, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the federal law that ensures the primacy of HIPAA over state laws unless the state law is deemed more rigorous in protecting medical information.
What is the purpose of HIPAA?
HIPAA, referred to as Public Law 104-191, serves two primary objectives: ensuring uninterrupted health insurance for individuals facing job transitions or loss, and standardizing the electronic transmission of administrative and financial transactions to ultimately decrease healthcare expenses. Additional aims encompass addressing abuse, fraud, and wastage within the healthcare system, as well as enhancing access to long-term care services and health insurance.
What are the 5 main components of HIPAA?
There are five sections, or titles, included in HIPAA.
- Title I: HIPAA Health Insurance Reform. Title I protects health insurance coverage for individuals who lose or change jobs. It also prohibits group health plans from denying coverage to individuals with specific diseases and preexisting conditions and from setting lifetime coverage limits.
- Title II: HIPAA Administrative Simplification. Title II directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish national standards for processing electronic healthcare transactions. It also requires healthcare organizations to implement secure electronic access to health data and to remain in compliance with privacy regulations set by HHS.
- Title III: HIPAA Tax-Related Health Provisions. Title III includes tax-related provisions and guidelines for medical care.
- Title IV: Application and Enforcement of Group Health Plan Requirements. Title IV further defines health insurance reform, including provisions for individuals with preexisting conditions and those seeking continued coverage.
- Title V: Revenue Offsets. Title V includes provisions on company-owned life insurance and the treatment of those who lose their U.S. citizenship for income tax purposes.
Title II of HIPAA, which is also known as the Administrative Simplification provisions, encompasses the requirements for HIPAA compliance that are commonly referred to in healthcare circles.
- National Provider Identifier Standard. Each healthcare entity, including individuals, employers, health plans and healthcare providers, must have a unique 10-digit National Provider Identifier number, or NPI.
- Transactions and Code Sets Standard. Healthcare organizations must follow a standardized mechanism for electronic data interchange (EDI) in order to submit and process insurance claims.
- HIPAA Privacy Rule. Officially known as the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, this rule establishes national standards to protect patient health information.
- HIPAA Security Rule. The Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) sets standards for patient data security.
- HIPAA Enforcement Rule. This rule establishes guidelines for investigations into HIPAA compliance violations.
Healthcare organizations can face significant financial expenses due to HIPAA violations, as the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has the authority to conduct audits and impose penalties for noncompliance with HIPAA.
HIPAA Privacy Rule
The HIPAA Privacy Rule, also known as the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, introduces nationwide regulations in the United States to safeguard patients’ personal or protected health information (PHI).
The rule issued by HHS aims to safeguard the privacy of patients by limiting the usage and sharing of sensitive PHI. Doctors are obligated to furnish patients with a comprehensive list of every entity that receives their PHI for billing and administrative reasons, thereby enabling the appropriate dissemination of relevant health information.
Healthcare providers covered by HIPAA are also obligated by the Privacy Rule to ensure that patients have the right to obtain their own PHI if they make a request.
Organizations classified as HIPAA-covered entities are subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Additionally, they must establish a contract with HIPAA business associates that enforces particular safeguards on the protected health information (PHI) utilized or disclosed by the business associates.
What are HIPAA-covered entities?
The scope of HIPAA is limited to covered entities and their business associates.
Covered entities, referring to organizations or corporations that directly manage PHI or PHRs, are obligated to adhere to both HIPAA and the HITECH Act. These regulations aim to safeguard the security of personal health records and ensure compliance.
There are three categories that covered entities can be classified into.
- Healthcare provider. Healthcare providers include doctors, clinics, psychologists, dentists, chiropractors, nursing homes and pharmacies.
- Health plan. Health plans include health insurance companies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), company health plans and government healthcare programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid and military healthcare programs.
- Healthcare clearinghouse. Healthcare clearinghouses are entities that process nonstandard health information they receive from another entity into a standard format or vice versa. Examples include billing services and community healthcare systems for managing health data.
Organizations have the option to utilize the HHS online tool to assess whether they meet the criteria of being a HIPAA-covered entity or Business Associate (BA). As a result, they can ascertain their obligation to comply with HIPAA requirements.
What information is protected under HIPAA?
Individually identifiable health information, regardless of its form – digital, paper, or oral – is safeguarded by the HIPAA Privacy Rule if held or transmitted by a covered entity or a BA.
The following are examples of PHI, but there may be others as well.
- a patient’s name, address, birth date, Social Security number, biometric identifiers or other personally identifiable information (PII);
- an individual’s past, present or future physical or mental health condition;
- any care provided to an individual; and
- information concerning the past, present or future payment for the care provided to the individual that identifies the patient or information for which there is a reasonable basis to believe could be used to identify the patient.
The following are not included in PHI.
- employment records, including information about education, as well as other records subject to or defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); and
- deidentified data, meaning data that does not identify or provide information that could identify an individual — there are no restrictions to its use or disclosure.
Documents such as medical records, laboratory reports, or hospital bills are considered specific examples of PHI due to the presence of identifying information, such as the patient’s name, that is associated with health data.
Blood pressure or heart rate data collected by a consumer health device, such as a smartwatch, would not be considered PHI as it is not disclosed to a covered entity.
Administrative requirements
Covered entities are mandated by the Privacy Rule to establish specific administrative requirements.
The following are included in these requirements:
- A privacy official, such as a chief privacy officer (CPO), must be appointed who is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures at a covered entity.
- Employees, including volunteers and trainees, must be trained on policies and procedures.
- Appropriate administrative, technical and physical safeguards must be maintained to protect the privacy of PHI in a covered entity.
- A process for individuals to make complaints concerning policies and procedures must be in place at a covered entity.
- If PHI is disclosed in violation of its policies and procedures, a covered entity must mitigate — to the furthest extent actionable — any harmful effects.
HIPAA-permitted uses and disclosures
Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the circumstances in which a covered entity can utilize or reveal an individual’s PHI are clearly defined. There are two situations in which such use or disclosure is permissible:
- if the Privacy Rule specifically permits or requires it — if the covered entity is using the data themselves, or transmitting it to another covered entity, the Privacy Rule permits it; and
- if the subject of the information gives written authorization.
The purpose of these conditions is to promote the seamless functioning of the health information technology (IT) system by ensuring that the correct individuals have access to electronic health information when needed. During specific instances such as a national crisis (such as a pandemic), certain aspects of the Privacy Rule might be modified to allow the disclosure of PHI that would typically be considered a violation.
HIPAA Privacy Rule penalties
If one becomes a victim of a healthcare data breach or fails to provide patients with access to their PHI, they may be fined by OCR under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
The severity of the infraction determines the penalties for Privacy rule violations, which are classified into four different categories.
- Unknowingly violating HIPAA is $100 per violation, with an annual maximum of $25,000 for repeat violations.
- Reasonable cause for violating HIPAA is $1,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $100,000 for repeat violations.
- Willful neglect of HIPAA, but the violation is corrected within a given time period, is $10,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $250,000 for repeat violations.
- Willful neglect of HIPAA, and the violation remains uncorrected, is $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million for repeat violations.
Individuals and covered entities that deliberately obtain or disclose PHI in violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule may face fines of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for a maximum of one year. If the violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule occurs under false pretenses, the penalties can escalate to a $100,000 fine and a maximum of 10 years in prison.
HIPAA compliance training programs can help organizations reduce the likelihood of facing regulatory action. Educational programs provided by OCR offer guidance on adhering to privacy and security rules, while consultancies and training groups also offer similar programs. Healthcare providers may opt to develop their own training programs that cover their specific HIPAA privacy and security policies, the HITECH Act, mobile device management (MDM) processes, and other relevant guidelines.
Although there is no official program for HIPAA compliance certification, training companies provide certification credentials as a way to demonstrate comprehension of the guidelines and regulations outlined in the act.
HIPAA Security Rule
The HIPAA Security Rule, also known as the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information, sets forth nationwide guidelines for safeguarding electronically stored or transmitted patient data. It is based on the Cybersecurity Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The objective of OCR is to uphold the HIPAA Security Rule, which strives to strike a balance between patient security and the development of health technology.
When healthcare organizations address the risks and vulnerabilities related to PHI and ePHI, they should inquire about three key questions during risk analysis to ensure the secure passage, maintenance, and reception of such information: What safeguards, both physical and electronic, are required by the rule?
- Can the sources of ePHI and PHI within the organization — including all PHI created, received, maintained or transmitted — be identified?
- What are the external sources of PHI?
- What are the human, natural and environmental threats to information systems that contain ePHI and PHI?
Organizations can make decisions on the necessary measures to uphold or enhance a security management process that complies with HIPAA by utilizing the responses to these questions.
- design a personnel screening process;
- identify which data to back up;
- determine how and where to back up data;
- determine how and where encryption should be used;
- determine what data should be authenticated for data integrity; and
- implement access control for physical workstations and electronic media, as well as data.
Healthcare organizations that receive federal incentive payments are required to attest to adhering to privacy and security protocols based on HIPAA as part of HHS’ meaningful use program for certified health IT.
HIPAA Omnibus Rule
The HIPAA Omnibus Rule implements changes to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement Rules in order to comply with amendments made by the HITECH Act.
Included in the HIPAA Omnibus Rule were the most significant alterations to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules since their initial implementation. Modifications encompassed the following aspects:
- strengthening the privacy and security protection for individuals’ PHI;
- modifying the Breach Notification Rule for unsecured PHI and putting in place more objective standards for assessing a healthcare provider’s liability following a data breach;
- modifying the HIPAA Privacy Rule to strengthen the privacy protections for genetic information;
- outlining OCR’s data privacy and security enforcement strategies, as updated for the electronic health record (EHR) era and as mandated by the HITECH Act;
- extending the Breach Notification Rule to vendors of EHRs and EHR-related systems;
- holding HIPAA BAs to the same standards for protecting PHI as covered entities, including subcontractors of BAs, in the compliance sense;
- stipulating that, when patients pay by cash, they can instruct their provider not to share information about their treatment with their health plan;
- setting new limits on how information is used and disclosed for marketing and fundraising purposes;
- prohibiting the sale of an individual’s health information without their permission;
- making it easier for parents and others to give permission to share proof of a child’s immunization with a school;
- streamlining an individual’s ability to authorize the use of their health information for research purposes;
- increasing penalties for noncompliance based on the level of negligence, with a maximum penalty of $1.5 million per violation; and
- guaranteeing that organizations can operate with certainty that their privacy and security policies comply with all the applicable regulations
What is a HIPAA Compliant Chat App?
A texting app that is HIPAA Compliant refers to an application that permits doctors, medical staff, and nurses to exchange confidential information about the patient. In this case, these apps are required to follow the HIPAA policies as a standard.
The policy implementation of the HIPAA compliant messaging platform solutions should be handled by an expert team in the development of Telehealth apps, as any authorized user must abide by HIPAA policies.
Due to the impact of the pandemic, a growing number of individuals are opting for healthcare apps to connect with doctors instantly through text for consultations. Therefore, it is essential for healthcare providers to possess a texting app that adheres to HIPAA compliance.
Top 10 HIPAA-Compliant Chat API Providers For Secure In-App Communication
Healthcare providers seek assistance from app development companies to obtain HIPAA Compliant text messaging apps of the highest quality. Nevertheless, not all companies are capable of providing such solutions. Hence, we have carefully selected the top 10 API providers that assist in constructing a chat platform that adheres to compliance regulations for virtual consultation.
1. MirrorFly
MirrorFly is a top-notch chat SDK on the market that ensures HIPAA compliance, enabling the creation of chat applications with solid end-to-end encryption. In addition to facilitating smooth communication between doctors and patients, our video calling APIs empower messaging apps with various modern communication features, including 1-on-1 and group chats, video chats, and voice calling. Moreover, we offer flexible options such as self-hosted and cloud solutions to suit your in-app communication needs.
Key characteristics
MirrorFly Cloud Solution is a cloud-based solution.
- Provides Free Chat SDK
- Lets you host your telemedicine app on a dedicated cloud server
- Offers 21-day FREE trial of voice and video call SDKs
- Supports multi-tenancy
The solution provided by MirrorFly for hosting is self-hosted.
- Provides 100% customizable video, voice and chat SDKs
- You can avail lifetime access to features for a one-time license cost
- Lets you conveniently host your app on-premise
- Offers white-label solution
Effectiveness of the user interface
- Makes doctor-patient communication easy via video consultation software .
- Ability to track a patient record globally within the app for diagnosis and instant consultation.
The text provided is unclear and does not contain enough information to be rephrased. Please provide a more specific text or clarify what you want to be rephrased about pricing.
MirrorFly provides a pricing structure for their Twin model as stated below:
The Cloud Solution offered by MirrorFly
- Provides 3 different monthly-subscription plans:
- For more information on pricing, visit our pricing page
MirrorFly offers a self-hosted solution.
- Avails 100% customizable video, voice and chat features for a one-time license cost.
2. SendBird
Developing a HIPAA compliant texting service for healthcare becomes easier by utilizing SendBird API & SDK. SendBird can also be used to create in-app communication for convenient patient access. Moreover, SendBird enables the development of a comprehensive communication platform for doctor-patient interaction, incorporating chatbots and intelligent diagnostic tools. Additionally, SendBird possesses a strong and scalable chat API, essential for launching a texting app that complies with HIPAA regulations.
Key characteristics
- It supports Device Authentication on the client and server sides.
- Offers messaging data and analytics.
- Allows secure texting with encryption for all data and PHI using TLS/SSL .
Effectiveness of the user interface.
- Users get post-care experience notifications, including reminders.
- Facilitates @mentions in the chat, media sharing, lets users receive and read receipts.
Price information is subject to change.
You can avail of 5,000 chats at a monthly rate of $399 as the initial price.
3. Twilio
With Twilio, users can quickly create a HIPAA compliant email and messaging system for doctor-patient communication. Additionally, Twilio offers a reliable and scalable network infrastructure, as well as personalized solutions for various channels. Users can leverage Twilio to develop a platform that facilitates pre-screening appointments, follow-up communication, and ongoing treatment tracking.
Key Points
- It lets you add auto routines and FAQs in the app.
- Sends alert notification and has prescription refill options, automated pre-appointment calls.
- Two Factor authorization for logins.
Effectiveness of UI.
- Accessible to smart calls with “Click on Call.”
- Messaging from the Smart bots on websites is convenient.
The following is an alternative way of expressing the same meaning: Costing or setting prices.
Although a free demo is offered, Twilio implements a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
4. Plivo
Plivo is a messaging API platform that enables you to develop secure texting for web or healthcare mobile apps. It serves as an alternative to HIPAA and texting solutions like Twilio, using a customized sender ID for outbound messages. Additionally, Plivo provides advanced messaging features like long message concatenation, message queuing, and delivery reports.
Key characteristics
- Two-factor authentication for user login.
- Has intelligent message encoding
- Provides reusable templates, sticky sender and detailed debug log reports
The effectiveness of user interface.
- Facilitates automatic Opt-outs
- Send and receive media, including photos, videos, and audio clips.
Pricing is the act of determining the amount of money that a product or service is worth and setting that as the selling price.
Not only do they ensure HIPAA security, but they also uphold GDPR regulations. Plivo pricing ranges from $0.0000 per message for outbound messages to $0.0045 per message when using shortcodes.
5. Getstream.io
Getstream.io offers a suite of APIs and SDKs that enables the efficient development of a healthcare chat app that complies with HIPAA regulations. Moreover, the app can take advantage of modern messaging features like reactions, thread follow-ups, and high-quality video calls.
Key features
- It provides two-factor user authentication.
- Tracking of follow-up treatments with personalized notifications.
- Easy deployment with 99.999% uptime SLA guarantee.
Effectiveness of the User Interface (UI).
- Chatbots to optimize the patient’s chats
- Dashboard with healthcare history and diagnosis details.
The cost of a product or service.
Their startup plan is priced at $499 per month, whereas their enterprise plan has a custom pricing model.
6. CometChat
CometChat is a messaging platform that ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations and offers utmost security through its video conferencing, messaging, and audio systems. Designed for easy installation into any 3rd party device, such as iOS, Android, and web apps, its messaging SDKs are compatible with various platforms, requiring no additional coding. This versatile platform serves diverse industries, including healthcare.
Key characteristics or notable features
- Enables access only to the authorized users who have PHI data, other can never disabled or altered PHI data
- Provides end-to-end encryption across patient entire medical record
- Supports quick integration for medical app development
Effectiveness of the User Interface
- Easily notifies ‘N’ number of patients at once
- Provides easy and secure access to media and file sharing instantly
The pricing of the product remains unchanged.
There is a free trial available, in addition to the choice of paying only for what you use.
7. PubNub
PubNub offers chat APIs for in-app communication that comply with HIPAA regulations, allowing for enhanced patient experience across various remote sectors. These APIs enable advanced features such as chat, voice, and video, providing real-time interactions to deliver a superior patient encounter. PubNub’s comprehensive features, including regular notifications and location tracking, contribute to a satisfactory at-home treatment experience. Moreover, its HIPAA-compliant design enhances operational efficiency by facilitating speedy consultations, reducing no-shows, and minimizing treatment costs.
Key characteristics
- Improve efficiency with no compromise in patient care
- Provides high-end security over patients health care information
- Ensures secure sharing of confidential data
Effectiveness of user interface.
- Highly flexible to fit with exact need of any use cases
- More of backend support for chat with lower level of services
The pricing strategy remains unchanged.
Users of PubNub are offered a free trial, as well as the option to pay for the service based on their usage.
8. Enablex
Enablex offers a chat platform that adheres to HIPAA regulations, catering to the technical and business requirements of all healthcare sectors. The platform guarantees the protection of patients’ sensitive information from theft. In addition, their video calling APIs are specifically developed to address risk and liability management throughout the industry and facilitate wellness programs. This includes granting patients access to certified personal trainers for fitness or nutrition guidance through a live video chat application.
Key elements
- Reduces stress for mental health patients by allowing therapy across any device
- Enables to record all conversations for risk and liability management
- Facilitated with IoT tracking device to monitor patient health and welfare
Effectiveness of the User Interface
- Detect the signs of abnormalities in speech pattern with AI-powered video conversation
- Get connected within seconds for virtual assistance
The text provided is “Pricing”. Rephrased: “The cost of a product or service.”
Enablex offers a free trial and operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model for its services.
9. Mesibo
With Mesibo, you can easily incorporate real-time voice and video chat features into your HIPAA Compliant Chat app, enabling you to rapidly develop it. Along with the standard capabilities such as push notifications, scheduling appointments, and sharing locations, their platform provides advanced features to enhance doctor-patient communication and reduce costs. Moreover, Mesibo’s messaging SDKs are designed with user-friendly interfaces and a scalable platform to simplify the complexities of establishing connections.
Prominent characteristics
- Face-to-face doctor-patient interaction across the world
- Secure and reliable platform
- Regular follow-up with patients using notifications
Effectiveness of the user interface.
- HIPAA compliant platform is highly adaptable to receive video notification when you are on another call
- The patients data is accessible only by the patient and the authorized hospital staff only
Pricing remains unchanged.
Users of Mesibo can enjoy a free trial and then proceed to pay as they go based on the pricing model.
10. QuickBlox
QuickBlox has enabled healthcare industries worldwide by offering HIPAA compliant capabilities for texting, voice, and video calling. Its robust texting APIs allow for the development of mobile apps and video conferencing apps that are HIPAA compliant, thus improving remote health monitoring, internal communication, and patient management. Moreover, QuickBlox provides a range of HIPAA compliant hosting solutions that guarantee secure communication and storage of patient data, either in their cloud or your own, ensuring full control. Additionally, their chat SDKs can be tailored to suit industry requirements to achieve optimal patient health management.
Key characteristics
- Uninterrupted doctor-patient communication for ongoing care
- HIPAA chat user management with patients medical records
- HIPAA compliant instant chat with live and offline messages and alerts
Effectiveness of the user interface
- Easy to access and assemble desired interface
- Highly customizable with color, font, icons, etc
Pricing remains unchanged.
QuickBlox offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model for its service and also provides a complimentary trial period to its users.
How does HIPAA Compliant Messaging App Assist Healthcare Organizations?
Healthcare organizations in the present day are increasingly adopting HIPAA compliant messaging apps to enhance communication and teamwork.
Using HIPAA compliant texting apps can provide a healthcare company with the following three major benefits.
1. Penalty-Free
After the U.S. legislation was enacted in 2013 to enhance the privacy and security of individuals’ health, the importance of HIPAA text messaging became even more pronounced. Consequently, healthcare organizations face stricter penalties for breaches and non-compliance, with a maximum penalty of $1.5 million per violation.
2. Improves Productivity
An increase in productivity is one of the benefits that healthcare institutions can obtain from using HIPAA secure apps. For example, by utilizing fax apps that comply with HIPAA regulations, healthcare organizations can conveniently send patients’ medical reports and prescriptions while simultaneously managing other responsibilities. Consequently, this results in improved productivity.
3. Better Service
Telehealth apps that implement HIPAA are recognized for their ability to provide improved services. This is primarily due to the convenience it offers patients in connecting with doctors. Additionally, it allows doctors to collaborate with colleagues and administer treatment to patients at the most suitable juncture. Lastly, online sharing of prescriptions and other documents becomes feasible.
4. Cost-Effective
Both the healthcare service provider and the patients benefit from utilizing apps, resulting in cost savings. This is achieved through clinics decreasing their expenses on printing reports, printers, and fax machines. Additionally, the use of HIPAA text messaging apps facilitates convenient communication between staff and patients. Furthermore, patients favor online consultations as they minimize travel time and associated expenses.
