In accordance with a 2011 study by the Ponemon Institute that found data breach frequency increased 32 percent among healthcare organizations, a number of health insurance data experts have noted this year will highlight developing security issues in the field.
Institute chairman and founder Larry Ponemon, for example, indicated 81 percent of surveyed healthcare providers are storing or collecting protected health information (PHI) using mobile devices, but about half of those have not yet instituted measures to secure those devices.
One expert suggested the implementation of cloud computing technology is outpacing the development of appropriate security measures, leading to compliance and security concerns and vulnerabilities. Another suggested the growing use of mobile devices to view electronic health records gives rise to similar concerns.
Several of these technological developments offer advantages in terms of cost, a major factor with the nation's healthcare expenses increasing. If they lead to enough difficulties in terms of security and compliance, however, that benefit may be lost. Employee benefit plan administration and other aspects of healthcare are likely to change as technologies and industry standards develop.
