Which Fax Services Are HIPAA Compliant

A Complete Guide for Healthcare

Most fax solutions are not HIPAA compliant. They do not sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), they lack strong encryption, and they keep no audit trail. Fax.Plus is a HIPAA-compliant fax solution that meets core requirements and fits healthcare workflows.

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/ Requirements

HIPAA Compliance Requirements: What Healthcare Teams Must Know

Four pillars make a HIPAA fax service safe for PHI:

  • Signed BAA that covers fax handling.

  • Encryption in transit and at rest across the full workflow.

  • Access controls with MFA to stop unauthorized viewing.

  • Audit trails to track every access and action.

Advanced HIPAA Requirements

  • API Requirements for Custom Systems: Send and receive by API with webhook alerts (sent, received, page), scoped tokens, and status callbacks to your EHR.

  • Real-Time Faxing and Record Updates: Fire instant events as pages arrive, auto-link to the right patient chart, and post live status back to care tools. (Available on Enterprise with HIPAA mode.)

Telemedicine Integration: Secure Remote Care Support

  • Secure Document Exchange During Virtual Consultations: Share consult files safely inside the platform without exposing them through email.

  • Patient Portal Integration for Direct Communication: Let patients receive confirmations and updates through the portal without PHI ever leaving the secure environment.

Mobile Security for Healthcare Teams

  • Multi-Factor Authentication for Mobile Access: Require MFA every time staff log in from a phone or tablet.

  • Remote Wipe Capabilities for Lost Devices: Let admins revoke sessions and wipe data if a phone is lost or stolen.

  • Secure Mobile Apps with Healthcare-Grade Protection: Use mobile apps that include the same logging and admin controls as the desktop portal.

/ Comparison

HIPAA Compliant Fax Service Comparison

Hipaa Fax Services
eFax
Dropbox
Humblefax
FaxZero
HIPAA compliant
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End-to-end encryption
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BAA included
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Audit trail & reporting
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Role-based access
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SOC2 certification
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PHI data resicency
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Ease of use
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High Volume Faxing
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Integrations
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/ Analysis

HIPAA Compliant Fax Services

Choose a provider that offers a signed BAA, end-to-end encryption, strict access controls, and complete audit trails.

Fax.Plus: Healthcare Fax Leader

Fax.Plus provides healthcare-grade security with BAAs, encryption, logging, and flexible integrations, plus reliable delivery, complete auditability, and simple apps on web and mobile. It scales from solo clinics to multi-site health systems.

  • HIPAA Compliance Features and Signed BAA: BAA is available on the Enterprise plan. HIPAA mode adds granular permissions, and retention rules.

  • Advanced Security Controls and Data Residency: Data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES‑256). You can choose data residency and rely on resilient storage for high availability in clinical use.

  • Seamless API Integration with Health IT: Use REST APIs and webhooks to route faxes into your EHR or care systems. Create cover pages, apply tags, and automate filing with simple calls.

  • Multiple Practice Management and Role-Based Access: Admins manage everything from a central console. Role-based access fits departments like cardiology, radiology, and oncology, and supports least-privilege, SSO, and MFA.

eFax Corporate: Established but Expensive

Corporate-tier plans can be HIPAA compliant with a signed BAA, but expect higher pricing.

  • Corporate Plan Requirements and High Monthly Costs: HIPAA features are typically gated to enterprise plans with minimums.

  • Limited Integration Capabilities vs. Modern Solutions: May require workarounds to match modern API automation depth.

  • HITRUST Certification and Healthcare-Focused Support: Enterprise-grade assurances available.

FaxZero: Avoid for healthcare 

No BAA, consumer-grade workflows: “free” tools rarely meet required safeguards or documentation for PHI.

  • No BAA Available, Immediate Compliance Violation: Without a BAA, covered entities and BAs cannot send PHI.

  • Lack of Encryption and Security Infrastructure: Not designed for regulated healthcare data handling.

  • Legal Risks and Potential HIPAA Penalties: High risk of breaches and fines, avoid for any PHI.

HumbleFax: Avoid for healthcare 

No published BAA or healthcare security depth.

  • Missing Security Infrastructure and Audit Capabilities: Insufficient controls for PHI lifecycle management.

  • No Business Associate Agreement Options: Disqualifying for HIPAA-covered use.

  • Alternative Recommendations for Small Practices: Use a provider that signs BAAs and offers audit logging by default.

Dropbox Fax: Avoid for healthcare

Absent clear HIPAA documentation and BAA commitments, treat as non-compliant.

  • Lack of Healthcare-Specific Features and Documentation: Limited detail on PHI controls and healthcare workflows.

  • Missing BAA Documentation and Support: Without a BAA, you cannot process PHI.

  • Security Gaps for PHI Transmission: Choose a platform purpose-built for healthcare.

Why Fax.Plus for Healthcare?

All Fax Functions In Your Own App

Rapid Access to PHI Records and Document Management

Route inbound faxes to specialty inboxes (for example, Referrals or Authorizations) for faster triage. Apply retention policies and export to your archive system.
Dedicated Support

Centralized Administration for Multi-Location Practices

Manage numbers, users, roles, and retention rules from one console. Least-privilege access ensures staff see only what they need.
Keep Your Current Fax Numbers

Offline Fax Reception and Global Coverage

Inbound faxes are received and stored securely, even during local outages. Global numbering and delivery support distributed care teams.

Seamless Number Porting

Bring your published fax numbers with zero downtime. Use placeholder numbers to start immediately, then cut over when porting completes.

Migrating to Fax.Plus cloud fax

Switching fax services doesn't have to disrupt your clinic. Here's a simple migration plan:

1
Create an account on Fax.Plus and purchase an enterprise plan.
2
Fax.Plus provides a straightforward process to port in numbers with minimal downtime.
3
Set up Fax.Plus to become HIPAA compliant:
  • Meet data residency requirements by selecting the appropriate data center location in the compliance tab.

  • Activate advanced security controls to further secure your account.

  • Request and sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to officially mark your account as fully HIPAA compliant.

4
Brief your team, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of patient care.

Related articles

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FAQs

Are all online fax services HIPAA compliant?
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No. Many consumer tools do not sign BAAs and lack the required controls. Choose a provider that offers a BAA, encryption, access controls, and audit logs.
What encryption should a HIPAA fax service use?
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HIPAA fax services should use TLS for data in transit and AES‑256 for data at rest. Ask about key management, backups, and disaster recovery.
Will a HIPAA fax service integrate with my EHR?
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You can integrate Fax.Plus with your EHR via API and webhooks.
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How do audit logs help with HIPAA?
Logs show who accessed PHI, when, and what they did. This supports breach investigations and compliance reporting.
What about number porting and downtime?
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Plan a phased port. Fax.Plus keeps inbound faxing available during the transition.

Discover Fax.Plus,
HIPAA compliant fax solution.

Want to see how our cutting-edge faxing solution can help your healthcare organization?
Schedule a demo and one of our representatives will contact you for a customized demonstration.