Homecare Homebase Earns HIPAA Milestone for De-identification of PHI, Supporting Planned AI Innovations

Evaluation confirms HCHB's de-identification methodology meets HIPAA standards for data privacy, supporting secure, scalable AI development that serves clinicians and enhances patient care.

DALLAS, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Homecare Homebase^SM (HCHB), the leading software provider for home-based care, has successfully completed a Re-identification Risk Determination (RRD). This action paves the way for the further development of scalable AI and machine learning solutions for the home health and hospice industry.

Finalized on March 14, 2025, the evaluation determined that HCHB's encounter notes dataset, when de-identified following HCHB's comprehensive de-identification methodology, is fully compliant with HIPAA's Expert Determination Standard. This milestone supports HCHB's plans of developing and launching secure, compliant AI tools to predict hospitalization risk and support clinical documentation while upholding ethical data use and patient privacy.

"Meeting the HIPAA Expert Determination Standard is crucial in our mission to responsibly and ethically leverage and develop AI-enabled tools," said Haley Woods, director of product management, AI & Innovation at HCHB. "It allows us to confidently use data sets across diverse regions, significantly reducing potential biases and making our AI solutions scalable and beneficial for healthcare providers."

The ethical application of AI in healthcare is critical to addressing risks such as biased recommendations, security breaches and compliance violations. By undergoing the RRD, HCHB reinforces its commitment to building ethical, sustainable AI tools while maintaining a focus on data privacy. Achieving this milestone demonstrates that HCHB is taking transparent, proactive steps to protect patient information and earn provider confidence in order to further differentiate HCHB in the market.

"Our commitment to ethical AI reflects our dedication to delivering technology that supports both exceptional patient care and clinician efficiency," said Luke Rutledge, president of HCHB. "By meeting rigorous compliance standards, we strengthen clinician trust, allowing them to focus more on patient interaction rather than administrative tasks."

The determination will enhance HCHB's initiatives for launching its first suite of AI-powered products designed to enhance predictive analytics and clinical documentation processes this summer, with additional innovations scheduled for subsequent release. For more information about HCHB's use of ethical AI and its soon-to-be-released AI-powered product suite, go to hchb.com.

About Homecare Homebase, LLC

Founded by industry veterans in 1999, Homecare Homebase^SM (HCHB) is a Dallas-based software leader empowering exceptional home-based care through hosted, cloud-based technology solutions and administrative services. HCHB's customized mobile solutions enable real-time, wireless data exchange and communication between field clinicians, physicians and office staff for better care, more accurate reporting and improved revenue cycle management. HCHB's products and services streamline operations, simplify compliance and boost clinical and financial outcomes for home-based care agencies. Each year, over 300,000 HCHB users serve approximately one million patients daily, resulting in over 121 million annual visits. Homecare Homebase is a Hearst Health company. For more information, visit www.hchb.com or call us toll-free at 1-866-535-HCHB (4242).

About Hearst Health 

The mission of Hearst Health is to guide healthcare organizations by delivering essential intelligence and software that improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care. Hearst Health has been innovating with care for more than 40 years, with a commitment to making a lasting positive impact on health. The Hearst Health companies — FDB, Homecare Homebase, MCG, MHK, QGenda and Zynx Health — elevate care by informing and empowering participants across the health journey. To learn more, visit www.hearst.com/hearst-health and follow @Hearst Health on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Homecare Homebase