Massage therapy is an extremely intimate profession, and that means that some of your information is sensitive. As a result, you need to take extra steps to ensure that the information provided on your massage intake forms is secure. Here are some ways to make your massage therapy intake form comply with HIPAA laws so you can practice massaging without any issues.
What is HIPAA?
The law on privacy and security for healthcare is called HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPPA was passed into law on July 23, 1996, in the United States of America. The law was established after a number of sensitive healthcare data breaches occurred in the 90s. These hacks involved the leaking of private patient information, which has led to stricter regulations governing what healthcare professionals can and cannot do.
Why Are Massage Therapists Required to Comply with HIPAA Requirements?
HIPPA requirements protect the privacy of the information of individuals in medical and health care organizations, and it was created to help individuals have the freedom to make decisions about their own medical treatment. While the regulation doesn’t apply to all companies or organizations, it’s still a good idea for companies to comply with the regulation and ensure the confidentiality of their patients’ information.
How Does This Affect Massage Therapists?
What this means is that most therapists are required to fill out an HCP ID, a form that details their credentials and experience in massage therapy. While some companies may have an HCP ID already available, there are also many companies that do not.
How Do I Get Started With My Massage Therapy Intake Form?
Take a look at some forms for various professions that you may not have considered. Make sure your form accurately describes your massage therapy intake information, even if it doesn’t seem relevant or interesting. This should all be included in your massage therapy intake forms in order to be as compliant with HIPPA regulations as possible
If the form is about a certified doctor of chiropractic, chiropractic exam, or chiropractic rehabilitation therapist, make sure the description accurately describes what’s involved. When it comes to research, medical condition, or injury, people want to know the details they need to be comfortable.
If the form is for a physical therapist, make sure the description accurately describes the physical therapy services you offer. It’s equally important to note any modifications you make to your services in response to client feedback or changes in the market.
What Should Be Included in the Massage Therapy Intake Form?
Generally, you want to make sure that your massage therapy practice gets all of the information that the local, state, and federal governing bodies require. Since all of the rules about privacy and confidentiality come with the service, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re providing everything that’s asked for. This usually includes a date of birth, full name, address, and driver’s license number.
Some states might have additional requirements, like an attempt to verify your identity. This would require you to provide a copy of a birth certificate or other document, along with your driver’s license number. Other states may have additional requirements as well.
How Do I Store My Electronic Versions of the Form?
Electronic forms like your massage therapy intake form should be stored in a secure digital format. If you do not do this, then the information in your forms can be stored in your computer’s hard drive. You should also make sure that you do not store your forms on a flash drive because this could potentially allow unauthorized persons to retrieve your data.
Conclusion
The key to helping your patients stay safe and remain compliant is by having a secure, password-protected way to create and store your massage therapy intake forms. By following the steps outlined in this article, your patients can enjoy the benefits of massage therapy without any concerns over HIPPA violations or information security.