The Red Flag Rules – A New Tool to Combat Identity Theft
Identity theft is on the rise and the federal government is taking new steps to combat the misuse of individual information. One such measure currently being implemented in businesses throughout the country is known as the “Red Flag Rules.” On November 1, 2008 the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) adopted regulatory language requiring various entities to create policies and procedures to address detection, prevention and mitigation of identity theft for “covered accounts.” A covered account is any client who is authorized credit or deferred payment, so the number of businesses that must comply with this new rule is staggering. Lenders, mortgage brokers, financial institutions, car dealers, hospitals and all medical and dental practices must comply with these new Red Flag Rules.
Many business have no idea of these new Red Flag Rule requirements. “I simply had never heard of these Red Flag Rules before now,” said Beth Wickham, a medical practice office manager in Florida. “We read up on the rules, and found a vendor that provided a straightforward solution that seemed to meet our needs. We’re now completing our staff training so as to be in compliance by August 1.”
The FTC Red Flag Rules have four basic requirements that each business or medical practice must comply with:
• Identify relevant patterns, practices and activities that signal possible identity theft and incorporate those into provider policies and procedures to identify, prevent or mitigate identity theft risk.
• Create an effective program to detect these “red flags” in daily operation.
• Respond appropriately to detected “red flags” to prevent and mitigate identity theft.
• Ensure the program is updated periodically (at least annually) to incorporate new issues, effective responses, and to make the plan more effective.
Enforcement of this regulation was to commence May 1, 2009, but based on the large percentage of businesses unaware of the new requirements, on April 30 the FTC extended the deadline until August 1, 2009. With just a few days left to comply, businesses throughout the country are scrambling to find a solution that fits their unique requirements.
Numerous companies are offering solutions to assist businesses with their Red Flag Rule compliance. Most of these solutions are modifications of existing compliance software or programs, and the costs range from $500-$2500 with many requiring annual subscriptions. While some larger financial institutions may require such bold solutions, these are overkill and overbudget for the vast majority of businesses.
One vendor that has sold thousands of “Red Flag Toolkits” is i-Comply – a consulting firm specializing in compliance products for physicians. “We took the approach that best met our existing customers’ requirements,” said Scott Keith, the sales director for i-Comply. “They needed a simply, straight-forward toolkit that was affordable and could be implemented without a lot of time and disruption to their current business activities. We sell our toolkit for $79 as an instant download, and medical and dental practices across the country have flocked to our site to purchase it.”
Other options for businesses include subscription services that help them identify identity theft, as well as protection-oriented solutions that verify client identity using a variety of proprietary methods.
Whichever solution is best for your practice, remember that the deadline is only a few days away.
Scott Keith is the sales director for i-Comply, the leading provider of compliance tools for physicians. You can learn more about i-Comply’s solutions and services at http://www.icomplymd.com Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/the-red-flag-rules-a-new-tool-to-combat-identity-theft-1073094.html
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