How to Ensure HIPAA-Compliant Texting in 2025

Texting is now a daily part of communication in healthcare, but that convenience comes with risk. As patient expectations grow and mobile work becomes the norm, it's more important than ever to ensure that any texting you do is fully HIPAA compliant.

So what exactly does that mean in 2025?

Understand the HIPAA Requirements

HIPAA doesn’t ban texting outright, but it does require that any communication involving protected health information (PHI) must meet strict security standards. That includes:

• End-to-end encryption
  
  
• Access controls (PINs, biometrics, etc.)
  
  
• Secure data storage
  
  
• Audit logs
  
  
• A signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with your messaging provider
  
  

Standard SMS apps, iMessage, or WhatsApp don’t check all these boxes. Even if they’re encrypted, they often lack audit trails, access controls, or the ability to sign a BAA, making them non-compliant.

Choose a Platform Built for Compliance

To meet these standards, healthcare providers should use platforms specifically designed for HIPAA-compliant communication. Solutions like iPlum offer encrypted texting, secure voicemail, call logs, and administrative controls, wrapped in a mobile-friendly experience.

A HIPAA-compliant texting app should give you:

• A dedicated business number (separate from personal use)
  
  
• Secure storage of all messages
  
  
• Admin visibility and control for teams
  
  
• The ability to sign a BAA
  
  

This is especially critical in BYOD environments, where staff use personal devices for work.

Stay Updated and Document Everything

HIPAA enforcement is active and evolving. In 2025, regulators are paying closer attention to mobile security policies and how data is accessed across devices.

It’s important to realize that it’s not just about the tools but rather how your teams are using them! Ensure your staff is trained, document your texting policies, and choose a provider that helps you stay ahead of compliance expectations.

Bottom line: HIPAA-compliant texting is possible and necessary. With the right platform, you can keep communication fast, mobile, and secure without putting patient privacy at risk.

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