Direct Email and Secure Encrypted Messaging for Behavioral Health Care
Direct Email and Secure Encrypted Messaging
In today’s healthcare landscape, ensuring HIPAA compliance and data security is critical. For behavioral health care agencies and clinicians, especially those treating substance use, meeting the requirements of 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPAA is paramount. To address compliance concerns, Direct Email and Secure Encrypted Messaging offer a secure solution to exchange protected health information (PHI) and meet MIPS measures in the Promoting Interoperability (PI) category.
What is it?
Direct Email and Secure Encrypted Messaging is a secure protocol for sharing PHI, guaranteeing the exchanged information’s safety, security, and HIPAA compliance.
How does it work?
This messaging system allows you to send various types of information securely. This includes clinical documentation, CCDAs, lab results, and referral information.
In the past, HIPAA limitations and data security concerns made exchanging PHI risky and impractical. Legislative bodies recognize the need for an electronic solution in an increasingly digital world. As such, they have come together to address these concerns.
Are there any limitations?
This method only allows you to send PHI emails to other direct email addresses. For example, emailing YourClient@gmail.com would not be possible, as Gmail is not a direct email address. It’s important to note that direct email is not a typical email system. Instead, it is a secure method of encrypted data transfer that emulates email. Thus, any recipient of PHI sent via this method will need a direct email address.
Does it meet MIPS requirements?
Providers certified with the 2015 Edition, such as DataMotion (the vendor partnered with PIMSY), meet the MIPS requirements for Measure (170.315 (h)(2) – Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM). For more information about 2015 Edition certified vendors, MIPS, PQRS, and MACRA, click here.
How do you obtain Direct Email for your agency?
Contact us to learn more about Direct Email and Secure Encrypted Messaging, how it can enhance your organization’s data security, and how PIMSY can help you qualify for MIPS. Reach us at 877.334.8512, ext 1, or hello@pimsyehr.com
