Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis Partners with IntApp to Address 2013 HIPAA Information Security Rules

USA/Canada News

20
May
2013

Editor

IntApp, Inc., provider of the most-adopted information security software for law firms, today announced that Waller, a law firm serving ten core industries and frequently advising clients and peer law firms on complex compliance issues, is using IntApp Wall Builder to satisfy core requirements of the 2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rule.

On January 17, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that the new HIPAA Omnibus Rule now holds those law firms that act as Business Associates, or interact with protected health information (PHI), directly liable for compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule and Privacy Rule (press release). These rules mandate that access to and use of PHI must be restricted to a "minimum necessary" standard, with access restrictions documented and verified using activity monitoring technology. In turn, many organizations are currently revising their information management policies and practices to achieve compliance. Formal enforcement begins September 23, 2013.

"Our firm has always paid close attention to the HIPAA/HITECH rules, as we advise multiple healthcare clients and peer law firms on their compliance and professional responsibility obligations," said Doug Leins, Strategic Director of Information Services, Waller. "With the September HIPAA enforcement deadline rapidly approaching, we wanted to take additional steps to enhance our existing compliance measures. IntApp Wall Builder and Activity Tracker enable us to effectively respond to the HIPAA Security and Privacy Rules by locking down and monitoring internal use of electronic PHI."

IntApp Wall Builder is a web-based information security and confidentiality management software application that enables organizations to centrally control and report on user access permissions across multiple applications, including document management, accounting, portal, CRM, time entry and records management systems. It also automates notifications to individuals subject to specific policies and tracks acknowledgments for compliance purposes.

Wall Builder is the most-adopted information security management software by law firms with 150 or more lawyers. According to an independent survey by the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), 72% of large law firms using commercial software to enforce information access controls use IntApp Wall Builder.

IntApp Activity Tracker supplements these security capabilities by monitoring how lawyers and staff use sensitive information. It notifies management of suspect activities so that firms can resolve potential problems before they become crises or compliance violations.

"We worked with the IntApp risk practice team to scope a software configuration best suited to address our HIPAA requirements without disrupting lawyer productivity," added Leins. "With clients increasingly asking detailed questions about compliance, and new rules that explicitly mandate stricter protocol, this is an issue that is here to stay."

"We're delighted to highlight Waller's focused efforts to enhance compliance with the new HIPAA rules," said Pat Archbold, head of IntApp's Risk Practice Group. "By using Wall Builder and Activity Tracker to safeguard and monitor PHI, the firm is demonstrating its strong commitment to client service and compliance."