HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Enhanced Definition

Healthcare data protection regulation that many mainframe systems must comply with when processing medical information. HIPAA requires specific security, privacy, and data handling controls.

Key Characteristics

- Protected Health Information (PHI) security requirements
- Privacy rules for patient data
- Breach notification requirements
- Audit trail mandates
- Access control specifications
HIPAA Requirements for Mainframes:
- Encryption: Data at rest and in transit
- Access Controls: Role-based authorization
- Audit Logging: Track all PHI access
- Authentication: Strong user verification
- Data Integrity: Protection against tampering
Technical Safeguards:
- Encryption of datasets containing PHI
- Secure transmission protocols (FTPS, HTTPS)
- Database field-level encryption
- Audit trail generation via SMF
- Access control via RACF/ACF2/Top Secret
Compliance Considerations:
- Regular security audits
- Risk assessments
- Business associate agreements
- Incident response procedures
- Training and awareness

Use Cases

- Hospital patient records systems
- Health insurance claims processing
- Electronic health record (EHR) systems
- Pharmacy management systems
- Medical billing applications