HIPAA Compliance and the Online Backup Manager Service

HIPAA applies to any health care providers, health plans and clearinghouses (collectively "Covered Entities") that electronically maintain or transmit health information pertaining to individuals. Covered Entities must have appropriate measures that address the physical, technical and administrative components of patient data privacy. With the exception of small health plans, all Covered Entities must have data security standards in place by April 21, 2005, when the Standards for the Security of Electronic Protected Health Information (the "Security Rule") of HIPAA goes into effect for most health care providers. Small health plans are exempted until April 21, 2006. The Security Rule requires health care providers to put in place certain administrative, physical and technical safeguards for electronic patient data.