Building a HIPAA Compliant Website

This article explains what a HIPAA compliant website requires and how to meet those standards effectively.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney or compliance professional when interpreting HIPAA regulations.

1. Why HIPAA Compliance Matters for Healthcare Websites

If your website collects, stores, or transmits patient information, you are handling Protected Health Information (PHI). Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), this data must be safeguarded through technical, administrative, and physical controls.

Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, data breaches, and loss of patient trust. Any form submission containing medical details, contact information, or appointment requests can qualify as PHI.

2. Common Compliance Risks

Standard websites and form tools are not designed to meet HIPAA requirements. Common risks include:

• Unencrypted form submissions

• Storage of PHI in non-secure databases or email inboxes

• Missing audit trails or access logs

• No Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with vendors handling PHI

These risks expose healthcare providers to potential violations, even when the intent is simply to collect patient inquiries online.

3. Core Technical Requirements

A HIPAA compliant website must include the following:

• Encryption in transit and at rest: Data must be protected using SSL/TLS for transmission and encrypted storage solutions.

• Access controls: Limit access to PHI only to authorized users.

• Audit logs: Track all access and data activity for accountability.

• Backup and recovery: Maintain secure backups with integrity verification.

• Business Associate Agreement (BAA): Required for any third-party service that processes PHI.

These measures work together to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of patient data.

4. Building Secure Contact and Intake Forms

Every form on your website that gathers patient information must be built with HIPAA compliance in mind. This includes:

• Collecting only necessary fields (minimization principle)

• Using secure submission endpoints

• Storing submissions in encrypted databases

• Avoiding direct email delivery of PHI

Many form plugins and CMS tools (like WordPress contact forms) are not compliant out of the box.

5. Using Form Vessel for Compliance

Form Vessel lets you build secure, drag-and-drop forms without coding while maintaining full compliance with HIPAA standards.

Ultimately, Form Vessel simplifies HIPAA compliance for healthcare websites. It provides a HIPAA-Compliant experience by default which allows you to create compliant forms for any situation where PHI needs to be collected on your site.

6. Steps to Verify Your Website’s Compliance

To ensure your entire website meets HIPAA requirements:

1. Use HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate.

2. Host on a HIPAA-compliant server.

3. Replace all non-compliant forms with secure HIPAA-compliant alternatives.

4. Ensure all vendors that come into contact with PHI sign a BAA.

5. Train staff on HIPAA data handling procedures.

6. Implement HIPAA policies and procedures to comply with all of HIPAA's rules and HITECH's requirements including, but not limited to, auditing and security standards.

Each of these actions contributes to full compliance and risk reduction.

7. Final Thoughts

A HIPAA compliant website is essential for protecting patients and maintaining legal security. By combining encryption, access control, and verified vendor partnerships, healthcare providers can safeguard PHI while maintaining a great digital experience.