Description:
Organizations implement policies and procedures to ensure that all members of their workforce have appropriate access to electronic protected health information (ePHI) in compliance with the requirements outlined in paragraph (a)(4) of this section. The objective is to facilitate efficient access to ePHI for authorized individuals while preventing unauthorized access by those workforce members who are not designated to have such access.
The policies and procedures detail how ePHI access is granted, monitored, and revoked as per organizational roles and responsibilities. Access to ePHI is managed based on the principle of least privilege, where workforce members receive only the level of access necessary for their specific job functions.
Priority: High
Category: Access Control and Workforce Security
Services Associated with AWS:
- N/A (This requirement is typically not specific to cloud services and may apply to internal workforce management systems)
Services Associated with Azure:
- N/A (This requirement is typically not specific to cloud services and may apply to internal workforce management systems)
Objective Evidence:
- Administrative: Documented policies and procedures for workforce access to ePHI
- Administrative: Documentation demonstrating role-based access control (RBAC) implementation
- Technical: Records of ePHI access provisioning and de-provisioning
Possible Technology Considerations:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Tools
- Access Management Software
- Identity and Access Management (IAM) Systems
What needs to be answered:
- Are there documented policies and procedures for managing workforce access to ePHI as required by paragraph (a)(4) of this section?
- How does the organization grant and monitor access to ePHI while ensuring it aligns with the principle of least privilege?
- Can the organization provide evidence of how access controls and roles are defined and enforced?
- What mechanisms are in place to review, modify, or revoke access to ePHI based on workforce changes or job roles?
More details:
Effective workforce access management is essential for protecting the privacy and security of ePHI. It ensures that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive health information and that access is granted based on specific job functions and responsibilities. This practice aids in preventing unauthorized access and data breaches.