by Jillian Chubbuck | Jun 15, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Business Associates, Employers, Medical & Dental Providers, Uncategorized
One of the most frequent questions we get from our clients is: “If our software, servers, and networks are stable and rarely change, why do we need to spend time and resources testing our Contingency and Disaster Recovery (DR) Plan every single year? Wouldn’t...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Jun 11, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Business Associates, Employers, Medical & Dental Providers, Uncategorized
HIPAA Compliance in the Cloud: Securing ePHI in a Shared World The shift to public cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud has revolutionized healthcare data management. However, a common misconception remains: that the cloud provider handles all the...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Jun 11, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Business Associates, Employers, Medical & Dental Providers
What is a HIPAA Audit Log? Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule, specifically 45 C.F.R. § 164.312(b), a HIPAA audit log is an official chronological record of events occurring within an organization’s applications, user...
by Jillian Chubbuck | May 19, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Business Associates, Employers, Medical & Dental Providers
Disclaimer: Total HIPAA provides HIPAA compliance software, training, and documentation services. We do not provide IT services, email encryption software, or Google Workspace/Gmail technical setup. For assistance with configuring your email client or...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Apr 30, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Blog, Business Associates, Dental Providers, Employers, General, Medical & Dental Providers, Medical Providers, Privacy, Security, Uncategorized
A common misconception in the healthcare industry is that privacy rights end when a patient’s life does. However, for any organization handling sensitive data, understanding how the law follows a patient into the afterlife is critical for staying compliant and...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Apr 30, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Blog, Business Associates, Dental Providers, Employers, General, Medical & Dental Providers, Medical Providers, Privacy, Security, Uncategorized
For many Covered Entities and Business Associates, HIPAA compliance is viewed as a “one-and-done” annual event. You check the boxes, conduct your staff training, finish your Risk Assessment, and breathe a sigh of relief. However, the Department of Health and Human...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Apr 30, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Blog, Business Associates, Dental Providers, Employers, General, Medical & Dental Providers, Medical Providers, Privacy, Security, Uncategorized
When most business owners hear the word “HIPAA,” they think of hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies. If you are an employer group or an insurance agent, there is a dangerous misconception that a company’s internal health plan is somehow exempt from this federal...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Apr 28, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Blog, Business Associates, Dental Providers, Employers, General, Medical & Dental Providers, Medical Providers, Privacy, Security, Uncategorized
For any modern organization, HIPAA compliance is not a “one and done” checklist. It is a living, breathing requirement that demands constant vigilance. As the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) increases its audit frequency and cyberattacks...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Mar 10, 2026 | Agents & Brokers, Blog, Business Associates, Dental Providers, Employers, General, Medical & Dental Providers, Medical Providers, Privacy, Security, Uncategorized
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a niche tool for tech startups. It is being deployed across the entire HIPAA spectrum: Business Associates (BAs) are using it for automated processing and data analytics, employer groups are utilizing it for plan management, and...
by Jillian Chubbuck | Mar 10, 2026 | Blog, Encryption, File Sharing, General, Privacy, Security, Training
Summary: To use Google Workspace with Protected Health Information (PHI), you must enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with Google. As of 2026, this process is handled digitally within the Google Admin Console. However, a signed BAA is only the first step;...
