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Is WordPress HIPAA Compliant?

Picture of Form Vessel By  Form Vessel  ·  2 minute read

Learn about why WordPress is not HIPAA compliant by default and find out what healthcare providers need to know before using it for patient data.

1. What HIPAA Requires for Websites

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets rules for how electronic protected health information (ePHI) must be handled. If your website collects names, phone numbers, emails, or medical details through a form, that data is ePHI. HIPAA requires:

  • Encryption for data at rest and in transit

  • Access controls so only authorized staff can see submissions

  • Audit logs to track access and changes

  • Backups and disaster recovery

  • Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with vendors that process or store ePHI

If any of these are missing, you are not compliant.

2. WordPress Is Not HIPAA Compliant by Default

WordPress is an open-source content management system. It is flexible, but it is not designed for HIPAA compliance out of the box.

  • The core platform does not include encryption at rest, detailed audit logs, or role-based access controls required by HIPAA

  • Standard plugins for forms or data collection (like Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms) do not meet HIPAA standards

  • Most hosting providers for WordPress (shared hosting, managed WordPress services) will not sign a BAA

This means a healthcare provider using WordPress contact forms without changes would be exposing PHI in a non-compliant way.

3. Can WordPress Be Configured to Be HIPAA Compliant?

Technically yes, but it is complex and costly. You would need to:

  • Host WordPress with a HIPAA-compliant cloud provider that offers a BAA (e.g., certain configurations of AWS or Google Cloud)

  • Install an SSL/TLS certificate and force HTTPS site-wide

  • Implement full database encryption and secure backups

  • Configure role-based access controls and audit logs

  • Use a HIPAA-compliant form solution that encrypts submissions and stores them securely

Even with these steps, ongoing monitoring and patching are required. HIPAA compliance is not a one-time setup.

4. Safer Alternatives for HIPAA-Compliant Forms

If your main concern is collecting patient data safely, you do not need to overhaul WordPress itself. A more practical option is to embed a HIPAA-compliant form provider.

  • Forms should encrypt data end-to-end

  • Data should bypass WordPress and be stored in a HIPAA-secure environment

  • The vendor should provide a signed BAA

Form Vessel provides exactly that. You can keep your WordPress site for content and design, but route all patient data through HIPAA-compliant forms built in Form Vessel. This avoids the risks and complexity of trying to make WordPress itself compliant.

5. Bottom Line

WordPress on its own is not HIPAA compliant. Making it compliant requires advanced hosting, technical setup, and constant maintenance. For most healthcare organizations, the simpler and safer path is to use a HIPAA-compliant form solution like Form Vessel embedded on your WordPress site.

Next Step

If your practice uses WordPress and you need to collect patient inquiries securely, learn more about Form Vessel and how it helps you meet HIPAA requirements without overcomplicating your website.