Five Things to Consider When Negotiating Business Associate Agreements

Healthcare attorney Shalyn Watkins wrote a column for Birmingham Medical News highlighting five crucial considerations when negotiating Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In her article, Ms. Watkins emphasizes the importance of BAAs in healthcare compliance, cautioning against treating them as boilerplate documents. She outlines key points for review, including ensuring BAA compliance with HIPAA regulations, clarifying reporting obligations, updating outdated agreements, avoiding overly restrictive terms and negotiating realistic reporting timelines. Throughout her piece, Ms. Watkins underscores that carefully crafted BAAs are essential for maintaining a robust privacy compliance program and avoiding potential HIPAA violations and associated penalties.

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