When faxing online, it helps to know whether the online fax service you’re using is also HIPAA compliant. HIPAA compliance is a must for electronically faxing documents containing PHI (protected health information). Failing to do so could put you in hot water.
If you want to know what fax services are HIPAA compliant, you can check out the list below. After all, not all online fax services have HIPAA certification. Remember, faxing online even through a secure network does not automatically make it HIPAA compliant. It pays to be extra careful!
Table of Contents
- What Fax Services Are HIPAA Compliant?
- HIPAA Fax versus Email: Which One Is More Secure?
- Tips for Sending a HIPAA Compliant Fax
- Final Thoughts
What Fax Services Are HIPAA Compliant?
The simplest way to know what fax services are HIPAA compliant is to look for the HIPAA seal. The seal serves as validation. It’s proof that an online fax service is fully certified to fax documents that contain PHI.
Another way to know whether a fax service is HIPAA compliant is if it’s willing to sign a BAA (Business Associate Agreement) upon request.
Speaking of which, here are the best HIPAA-compliant online fax services for 2022:
iFax
What sets iFax apart from others is it doesn’t limit the availability of its HIPAA-compliant faxing service. All of its users can send and receive fax online through its secure network. Even if you fax occasionally, you can always send or receive HIPAA-compliant fax whenever the need arises.
On top of this, iFax is fully capable of high-volume faxing with its enterprise-grade cloud faxing solution. It is the ideal choice of many healthcare and medical providers. iFax offers a secure HIPAA-compliant online faxing solution with military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.
Aside from its robust security, iFax is also easily accessible because of its cross-platform functionality. The documentations are not only well-secured, but they’re also readily available regardless of which platform you’re on.
mFax
mFax offers reliable HIPAA online faxing for businesses and organizations. It will also sign a BAA upon request as long as there’s an outstanding paid subscription.
mFax also provides several methods to ensure data security. With its paperless online faxing system, there’s less risk of human errors. It is also easier to ensure security compliance. There’s no need to store paper documents and shred confidential files.
FAXAGE
FAXAGE is an industry leader when it comes to Internet fax services. It is also one of today’s top choices when it comes to HIPAA-compliant faxing. Most importantly, all of the plans offered by this service come with HIPAA compliance.
There is no need to avail of a premium or custom enterprise plan. When it comes to features, this service is fully capable of providing what businesses need to ensure full HIPAA compliance. It will also sign a BAA upon request.
InterFAX
InterFAX is a cloud-based fax service provider with robust security and TLS encryption. This service is not only HIPAA compliant but also PHIPA compliant and ISO 27001 accredited. It also flaunts a web-based control panel that can be accessed using any computer or mobile phone.
In addition, healthcare institutions can integrate InterFAX with existing EMRs and EHRs. Its user-friendly technology makes it versatile, efficient, and reliable.
Concord Cloud Fax
Concord Cloud Fax is one of the leading online fax providers in the healthcare sector. This service is fully capable of providing enterprise-grade high-volume faxing. It also designed its HIPAA-compliant system to streamline document processes in healthcare settings.
Concord Cloud Fax also uses an intelligent document classification system. The system automatically identifies and classifies all inbound faxes making the workflow faster and more efficient.
eFax
eFax is one of the most popular choices when it comes to secure online faxing. This service uses advanced TLS secure transmission and stores faxes digitally on its secure cloud storage protected by 256-bit AES encryption.
Most importantly, eFax has the HIPAA seal of compliance. It is a trusted solution for secure healthcare faxing. It is also ready to sign a BAA as a trusted HIPAA fax partner.
HIPAA Fax versus Email: Which One Is More Secure?
Despite knowing what fax services are HIPAA compliant, not everyone has fully adapted the practice of faxing securely online. Many individuals and businesses still prefer to use email. While email remains the norm for digital communication, it is widely susceptible to hacking and phishing attacks.
Furthermore, the level of encryption used in emails won’t suffice in protecting confidential information. While there are methods to ensure email confidentiality, this is already the responsibility of the user.
When it comes to transmitting sensitive information, using HIPAA-compliant online fax services is way more secure. These services have passed strict requirements that ensure the protection of health information.
Tips for Sending a HIPAA Compliant Fax
Achieving full HIPAA compliance isn’t easy. It’s not enough to know what fax services are HIPAA compliant. It would be best to practice additional safety measures to ensure the security of the PHI at all times.
While using a HIPAA-compliant online fax service adds another layer of security, your computer isn’t. Never leave the device you used to fax unlocked or unattended. Also, make sure to log out your accounts after use. Ensure that all of your devices are password-protected with two-factor authentication always enabled.
Avoid unintentional disclosures by properly deleting confidential fax documents. Never leave them in your computer’s recycle bin. Delete the files permanently in such a way that they’re already deemed unrecoverable.
Practicing proper privacy measures while knowing what fax services are HIPAA compliant raises the standards of security. Doing so reduces the risk and vulnerability against any possible information breach.
Final Thoughts
When dealing with protected health information, it is necessary to adhere to HIPAA rules at all costs. The neglect or failure to adhere to these rules signifies violations to a certain degree. HIPAA violations are subject to fines and penalties.
Knowing what fax services are HIPAA compliant helps ensure your adherence to the rules. For businesses, using a HIPAA-compliant online fax provider helps establish trust and credibility.
For individuals, using a secure HIPAA-compliant fax service is all about prioritizing security. It gives assurance that your information is safe and you have complete control over it.
If you are looking for a low-cost HIPAA-compliant online fax service, try iFax! It offers affordable plans packed with top-notch features that suit your modern faxing needs!
Start faxing today and get a free local fax number along with a free 7-day trial of iFax Professional.
