Is HubSpot HIPAA Compliant?

As of June 2024, HubSpot has made progress in accommodating healthcare organizations by introducing features aimed at supporting HIPAA compliance. This is especially important for industries such as healthcare, finance, and insurance, where managing Protected Health Information (PHI) requires strict adherence to data protection regulations.

HubSpot’s HIPAA compliance features allow users to safely manage sensitive information on its platform. Here’s more on what these features include and how organizations can utilize them effectively.

HubSpot's HIPAA Compliance Features

To benefit from the HIPAA-compliant features, healthcare organizations are required to have an Enterprise subscription. Here’s a look at the major features:

• Enterprise Subscription Requirement: Organizations need to be subscribed to HubSpot's Enterprise plan to access any HIPAA compliance features. This tier ensures that sensitive data can be appropriately managed. (Source)
• Sensitive Data Settings: Administrators can enable HIPAA-protected settings through the "Privacy and Consent" tab. This feature allows users to choose the "Health/Medical Data" checkbox while also confirming their organization’s status as a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate. (Source)
• Business Associate Agreement (BAA): By activating the sensitive data settings, HubSpot initiates a BAA automatically. This is crucial for ensuring compliance with HIPAA requirements. (Source)
• Supported Features: HIPAA-compliant features within HubSpot include CRM Object Properties, CRM Objects API, CRM Attachments, list creation, workflows, search capabilities, integrations, forms, and authenticated API for form submission. (Source)

Limitations and Considerations

Even though HubSpot has made strides, there are some complications that organizations need to consider when trying to ensure HIPAA compliance:

• Feature Limitations: Some features may have reduced capabilities when handling sensitive data. For example, data in CRM Object Properties cannot be employed as Personalization Tokens. This affects the level of automation available to users. (Source)
• Cost Implications: The requirement for an Enterprise subscription means that organizations could face a higher total cost of ownership. This is an important factor, especially for smaller organizations that may have budget constraints. (Source)
• Implementation Complexity: Achieving full compliance is not merely about activating settings; it requires careful setup and ongoing management. Organizations must diligently prevent inadvertent handling of PHI outside the designated compliant features.

Conclusion

HubSpot’s move to include HIPAA-compliant features is a significant step for healthcare organizations looking for a comprehensive system to handle marketing, sales, and service activities while adhering to regulatory standards. However, it remains crucial for these organizations to assess their specific needs, weigh the costs involved, and ensure thorough implementation to maintain compliance in their operations.