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Top 5 HIPAA Compliant Web Hosting Services for WordPress

Mar 24, 2023

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Your HIPAA policy manager must get through a checklist for as long as they can to make sure your company is following all regulations.

In addition, failure to meet Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements has steep fines.

The penalty could be imprisonment and fines as high as $50,000 per violation (up up to $1.5 million a year). This is a serious risk for top-tier criminals!

Small-sized firms, HIPAA compliance can be extremely difficult to grasp andafford. But you're also the ones most likely to pay high-cost penalties.

Don't worry, though. We've got your back.

The following list contains optionsthat'll protect your data as well as secure, while following all the HIPAA rules (at at least with respect to zero).

We'll also break down the necessary features and accreditations that are needed. So you can verify our workings and sleep easy in the knowledge that your data is secure.

So let's get to it!

Do I need HIPAA-compliant Web Hosting?

If you're not in the U.S.

HIPAA is developed to protect the medical information (PHI) that is the information of Americans, wherever they are anywhere in the world. Therefore, if you're operating a business online, HIPAA compliance is your safest bet - regardless of where you are.

Although you're probably not involved working in the field of healthcare, you'll have to comply with HIPPA if you handle PHI in your service.

As telemedicine is growing in popularity and remote monitoring for patients the need for HIPAA-compliant hosting has become much more important than ever. Actually, non-compliant website hosts even prohibit the access to their services for sites that are subject to HIPAA regulations.

It is essential to note that if you host any type of medical information on your site such as patient records, prescriptions, and so on - it is essential to use HIPAA-compliant hosting for your website.

And here's why it's worth the effort...

Why Set up an Online Healthcare Business?

You've surely heard of sites like Zocdoc as well as Betterhelp that offer health care providers clients online a client-facing platform.

They're big and powerful and could make you want to avoid the trouble of building your own website. However, you should not!

Here are a few reasons to consider why creating your own website is the most effective option...

1. Increased Control of Ownership and Profits

Third-party platforms can take a sizable cut of the revenue you earn. In addition, you often have to pay membership fees. They're also at full liberty to change fee prices and the terms and conditions at drop of a hat.

Seth Meyers Lol GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers - Find & Share on GIPHY

In particular, Zocdoc recently changed its fee structure from a flat monthly rate of $3000 per company. Now, Zocdoc healthcare professionals are required to be paid a flat amount for each new patient booking and an annual fee for license.

As you build your business through third-party platforms, the more vulnerable you are to their whims. And that just doesn't make the most sense for business.

2. Create an intimate community of patients

With WordPress as well , you have more control over the pricing. However, you'll also have the ability to establish a community around your service.

Patients value the personal touch of an individual healthcare practitioner they can reach out to anytime they need to.

Plus, you can include additional resources like resources or advice to your patients that they can use and reference.

For instance, customer New Hope Counseling & Wellness Center offers therapies and counseling services on their website.

They are also frequently uploading content that can help support their community of survivors of eating disorders and trauma.

3. Maximize Recurring Revenue

Recurring revenue refers to a stream of income that repeats at regular intervals. Subscription-based services are an instance of recurring revenues. This revenue model is stable and reliable than single-time payment.

Here are some ideas for recurring ways to earn revenue for healthcare that you can offer via your WordPress website . These include :

Make subscriptions for ongoing appointments.

Provide your patients with an option for monthly payments to spread the cost of their treatment or ongoing appointments.

The cost of a subscription on a consistent basis could be a way to encourage patients to commit to regularly scheduled appointments as well as treatments. They'll feel a sense of accountability to make use of the treatment they're paying for.

In addition, having the option of paying monthly can help to make healthcare more accessible for patients who may have difficulty paying large sums up front.

This could enhance the level of satisfaction and loyalty among patients which will ultimately result in healthier outcomes for patients.

Make treatment classes

Develop treatment programs that can assist your patients with their home care.

If you're a physical therapist, for example, you could create a course with progressively more challenging exercises that will aid the recovery of your patients.

As a physician of primary care You could develop an educational program on how to manage type 2 diabetes.

As a mental health professional can you create courses to help individuals control their emotions or create a mindfulness program.

They can also be arranged in a offered in a variety of levels. For example, a basic subscription gives access to a 4-week online course, and a pro subscription granting access to personalized appointment via telehealth.

Make a resource hub that is paywalled

Make a collection of useful resources that your patients can access with their subscription. This could include information sheets or meal plans, pertinent video and articles - the possibilities are endless!

Patients will be able to access all the necessary information to complement their treatments on one page, which makes it simpler for them to stay engaged and motivated during appointments.

makes recurring revenue a doddle

Whatever you have in mind for your website, is the best WordPress membership plugin to help bring your ideas to life.

Make tiered subscriptions, paywall contentand handle your telehealth appointment all right on your site.

It is compatible with more than 5000 platforms and add-ons including the following add-ons to aid you with HIPAA conformity:

4. It's Much Easier Than You Believe

Don't let online security jargon put you off. With the right service supplier and some solid guidance from an expert, it's simple to follow HIPAA protocols and build an amazing website.

Before that, you must read on to find the best web hosting provider to suit your needs.

Essential Features to be HIPAA-compliant Web Hosting

For HIPAA compliance it is necessary to have a number of essential features and certificates the web hosting service you use should have in place. The following are required:

  • Advanced firewalls
  • Security monitoring and scanning for malware
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Encrypted virtual private networks (VPNs) to secure cloud access as well as electronic protected health information (ePHI) during transport
  • Extra secure SSL/TLS encryption to protect the storage of files
  • Physically secure server locations in HIPAA-approved data centers
  • Audit logs are used to keep track of HIPAA-regulated actions and access to data
  • Backup of data and off-site storage
  • Resilience to data recovery in the event of loss or disaster
  • 100% availability of servers and uptime
  • Great support
  • Ability to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to ensure HIPAA conformity

It is possible to find a complete (and highly useful) HIPAA compliance checklist on this page.

Here are some other related words and badges that you should look out for:

 HIT

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) law is an up-to-date version of HIPAA which came into enforcement in 2009. If anything is HITECH compatible, it's also HIPAA compatible... and there are some.

 HITRUST

In contrast to HIPAA or HITECH however, the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) isn't a law. It's a widely recognized organization that certifies companies for demonstrating HIPAA as well as HITECH compliance.

 CSF FOR HITRUST

The HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) includes international security and privacy regulations such as ISO, PCI, and GDPR to ensure compliance across the globe.

 SOC2 as well SOC3

Service Organization Control 2 (SOC2) and SOC3 frameworks help ensure the security of their data center as well as cloud security measures.

But, there are instances where something is SOC2/3 compliant , but is notHIPAA conforming, so watch out!

Three Things You Need to Know About HIPAA Web Hosting

Prior to jumping onto the top of the list, we're better at taking some time to set expectations.

1. HIPAA Secure Web Hosting Could Be Expensive

HIPAA web hosting is accompanied by an additional cost than most other hosting solutions. It's due to the fact that HIPAA compliance demands more web hosts in comparison to the typical shared or VPS hosting.

The added security comes with the cost of.

2. There are fewer options on the Ground

3. Do Your Own Diligence

Just because the service is compliant with the standards for HIPAA Compliance doesn't mean that your use of it in a safe manner. Have you ever seen someone wearing an unfit helmet and not adjust the straps? That's sort of similar.

Helmet Safety GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

If you mess up your settings, or if your internal protocols for handling and sending PHI aren't in line with HIPAA regulations, you could be still in breach.

Be sure to conduct your own research and get expert advice at any time you need it. In the end, all responsibility for HIPAA compliance rests with the individual.

5 HIPAA Compliant Web Hosting Services

With the disclaimers removed We present our top 5 HIPAA-compliant web hosting providers.

#1 - Liquid Web

Many reviewers have praised its reliability and excellent uptime, as well as its prompt customer support, as well as its super fast speeds.

Their motto is "The Most Humane People in Hosting" As you can see from the reviews of their customers, they live up to their slogan.

Thanks to their support it's easy They can also help you ensure your website is fully compliant with all HIPAA requirements.

Liquid Web is proudly HIPAA/HITECH certified. The company has been through rigorous audits by third parties to ensure their compliance with " not only meet standards set by the government, but even exceed."

They provide the entire range of offsite backups, completely controlled and owned data centers complete with locked servers, extensive security as well as a lot more.

In contrast to other providers of hosting on this list, you don't need search their site for their HIPPA-compliant services. They're completely transparent on what the service is and the price.

Pricing starts at $299/month for an individual HIPAA server. Prices can go up to $657/month when you purchase a multi-server solution.

#2 - Atlantic.Net, Inc.

Atlantic.net, Inc. is another provider that is proud to offer HIPAA-compliant hosting, with 100 percent uptime for SLA (SLA) as well as round-the-clock customer support.

Atlantic.Net, Inc. offers both fully managed and non-managed hosting options. If you're planning on migrating your current WordPress website onto their secure HIPAA compliant server, they'll help you in that process too.

As a specialist in compliance hosting, Atlantic.Net, Inc. has perfected the process of setting up in order to make what could be difficult to comprehend, simple.

Atlantic.Net, Inc. has three pricing levels which range from $279.98/month for their quickstart solution, to $609.97/month in their HIPAA Business Edition.

However, where they excel is in offering tailored hosting solutions to meet your particular requirements. So you're better off getting a custom quote from the company.

They also offer a 30-day free trial so you can try it before you make any commitments.

#3 3 HIPAA Vault

HIPAA Vault (formerly VM Racks) provides a completely managed and secure WordPress publishing platform.

The name of the program says it all. HIPAA Vault is specially designed to meet HIPAA Compliance. They offer 24/7/365 customer service with 90% of first-call resolution to ensure everything's working as it should.

They are also constantly monitoring their infrastructure, and make updates regularly to mitigate risk and beef up security.

If the cost/month of HIPAA-compliant web hosting is making you shiver, HIPAA Vault is your most effective choice. The most well-known annual plan costs just $84 per month.

#4 - Rackspace

Rackspace does not outwardly offer HIPAA compliant services as a package. However, they describe themselves as "HIPAA prepared". What do they mean when they say this?

It means on request they can ensure they are in compliance with all the requirements for HIPAA conformity.

All you need to be sure of is be sure to sign a BAA with them, which comes as standard with their clients in the healthcare sector.

And when they say that they're ready to go to go, they're serious. They reliably serve 2,500 healthcare organizations, which is a testimony to their experience with HIPAA compliance.

They're HITRUST CSF accredited and meet the standards set by HIPAA for both public and private and hybrid cloud systems.

To top that, they're as well Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certified and utilize Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols.

Getting lost in the various acronyms? Make sure you know that about sending and receiving data, they've got it covered.

#5 - AWS

Amazon Web Services ( AWS) is a cloud service provider (CSP) with web hosting solutions. It can securely process, store and transfer PHI. It also allows patients to sign the BAA in order to be compliant with HIPAA security measures.

Being that it's an CSP (as instead of a web hosting provider), AWS isn't eligible to receive HIPAA certification. However, it does meet the requirements for it.

Their HIPAA Risk Management program is aligned to the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). It also complies with protocols from NIST 800-53, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST 800-53).

These two have greater security standards than HIPAA.

One of the main benefits of AWS is that it is a pay-as-you go system which means that you only pay for the services you use for the time you utilize it.

It is different from the fixed monthly pricing structure used by other web hosts on our list. It also means you can stop at any time without paying a cent.

But, AWS is complex to get your head around, and unlike the others mentioned that we have mentioned above AWS, their customer service isn't as good..

While some of the companies listed that are on this list provide guidance on the way to go but don't anticipate the same level of support from AWS.

Conclusion

If you're looking for websites hosting with HIPAA compliance there's plenty of choices. The 5 we've covered here are some of the best available. The one you pick depends on your individual requirements and personal preferences.

After you've chosen the ideal choice for you The enjoyment (and money making!) begins. By integrating HIPAA-compliant plug-ins, you are able to do a lot more than just provide a telehealth service.

Create an online community today and provide an exceptional service to your customers now.

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Are you having any queries regarding HIPAA-compliant hosting? Tell us in the section of comments below!