Washington County’s software for Veterans Affairs is under question. At the weekly Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Jack Seward explained the current provider VetraSpec won’t agree to a business associate agreement requested by the county’s HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Compliance Consultant Carosh. VetraSpec’s annual fee is $500 and helps process veterans benefits. Carosh recommended using a different company to align with HIPAA standards and compliance.

Auditor Dan Widmer said that company at this time will waive the $5,000 set up fee if the county makes the switch. The annual cost is $6,000. Widmer adds that Carosh is paid annually as the county’s consultant, but if the county acts against the compliance consultant guidance then there are implications, “Our HIPAA compliance advisor Carosh has informed us that if we do continue with the current vendor and there was, without having a business associates agreement, and there was some sort of a HIPAA compliance issue that Carosh would not represent us, unless as he posed it, ‘You get your checkbook out.'”

Seward said he doesn’t want to delay and see veterans claims or benefits interrupted. The supervisors unanimously approved renewing with VetraSpec for $500. And Veterans Affairs will work to gather more information about the second vendor. The county’s legal counsel had not yet reviewed the issue.