Compliance
BAA
The contract required before a vendor may handle protected health information on a practice's behalf.
What it means in dermatology
Also known as: Business associate agreement
It defines permitted uses, required safeguards, subcontractor obligations and breach notification timelines. Any billing company, clearinghouse or hosting provider in the chain needs one.
A signed BAA does not transfer liability — the practice remains accountable for its vendors' handling of PHI.
Why it matters to your revenue
Sending claims data to a vendor without an executed BAA is itself a violation.
See this term in your own numbers
A free claims audit reviews a de-identified sample of your dermatology claims and returns a line-item findings report — including where terms like this one are costing you money.
Request a free claims audit