Based on our research, Amazon Chime is HIPAA compliant because it meets the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to safeguard protected health information (PHI).
What is Amazon Chime?
Amazon Chime is a communication and collaboration service that provides tools for online meetings, video conferencing, chat, and business calls. With Amazon Chime, organizations can schedule and host virtual meetings, conduct video calls, share screens, and collaborate in real-time. This helps teams improve communication, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity with a single, unified platform.
Will Amazon Chime sign a business associate agreement (BAA)?
Yes, Amazon will sign a business associate agreement for Chime, which can be reviewed in the AWS Management Console or by contacting their support team.
What does the Amazon Chime BAA cover?
The Amazon Chime BAA covers the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI), stating, "Amazon Chime is now a HIPAA Eligible Service. If you have a HIPAA Business Associate Addendum (BAA) in place with AWS, you can now start using Amazon Chime for your HIPAA eligible workloads.”
Their BAA covers:
- Protection of PHI
- Notifications of security incidents
- Access by HHS requests
- Individual Right of Access requests
- Individual accounting requests
- Return of PHI
Is Amazon Chime HIPAA compliant?
Amazon Chime signs a BAA and is, therefore, HIPAA compliant.
The HIPAA compliant solution: Paubox
Paubox has developed a HIPAA compliant email and texting solution that makes it easier for providers to connect with their patients. It eliminates the need for third-party apps or logins, allowing patients to receive secure, encrypted texts and emails directly on their phones.
FAQs
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA sets national standards for protecting the privacy and security of certain health information, known as PHI. HIPAA is designed to protect the privacy and security of individuals’ health information and to ensure that healthcare providers and insurers can securely exchange electronic health information. Violations of HIPAA can result in fines and penalties for covered entities.
Who does HIPAA apply to?
HIPAA applies to covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. It also applies to business associates of these covered entities. These are entities that perform certain functions or activities on behalf of the covered entity.
What is a business associate agreement?
A BAA is a legally binding contract establishing a relationship between a covered entity under HIPAA and its business associates. The purpose of this agreement is to ensure the proper protection of PHI as required by HIPAA.
Kirsten Peremore
