How to Make a HIPAA Compliant Website with WordPress: All You Need to Know

If you’re a healthcare provider, healthcare organization, or handle patient data, building a HIPAA compliant website is not optional, it’s the law.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted to protect Protected Health Information (PHI). This includes everything from medical histories and lab results to billing details and personal identifiers.

So, if your WordPress website collects, stores, or transmits PHI, it must meet HIPAA’s security and privacy standards. Failure to comply can lead to hefty fines, legal issues, and a loss of patient trust.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to upgrade your current site, this article will help you stay compliant and secure.

Steps to to Make a HIPAA Compliant Website with WordPress

Here is all you need to know about how to build a HIPAA compliant WordPress website, step by step.

Step 1: Choose a HIPAA-Compliant Hosting Provider

Before you install WordPress, your hosting environment must be HIPAA compliant. A typical web hosting plan won’t cut it. You need a provider that understands healthcare compliance and offers an infrastructure that meets HIPAA requirements.

Here’s what to look for in a HIPAA-compliant hosting services:

• Business Associate Agreement (BAA): This is a legal must. It outlines their responsibility in protecting PHI.

• Physical and Technical Safeguards: Secure data centers, firewalls, and data encryption are critical.

• Audit Logs and Monitoring: You should be able to track who accessed what and when.

• Regular Security Audits: This ensures the environment stays compliant over time.

• Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans: These are essential for data availability and integrity.

Recommended HIPAA-Compliant Web Hosting:

• Convesio
• HIPAA Vault
• Liquid Web

Step 2: Install WordPress in a Secure Environment

WordPress is not inherently HIPAA compliant, but it can be configured. Now that you’ve chosen a host that complies with the HIPAA rules, it’s time to set up your WordPress installation.

Key Security Measures for HIPAA-compliant WordPress installation

• Install WordPress in a secure VPS or cloud environment.
• Use HTTPS, as an SSL certificate is a must. It encrypts data in transit.
• Enable firewalls and DDoS protection.
• Use strong admin credentials and limit login attempts.
• Configure file permissions to prevent unauthorized changes.

Complete Checklist: HIPAA Compliance WordPress Website

Step 3: Design the Website for Healthcare Users

Once the backend is secure and compliant, it’s time to focus on designing a website that’s intuitive, accessible, and trustworthy for patients.

A good design isn’t just about aesthetics; it also plays a crucial role in building credibility and improving patient engagement.

• Use a Clean, Accessible Layout: Keep the design simple and easy to navigate, especially for users who may not be tech-savvy. Follow ADA compliance standards to ensure accessibility.

• Prioritize Mobile Responsiveness: Many users will access your site from smartphones or tablets. Make sure your design is fully responsive across all devices.

• Include Trust Signals and Clear CTAs: Display certifications, secure badges, and privacy policies. Use clear call-to-actions to guide patients toward bookings, contact forms, or login pages.

• Avoid Clutter and Unnecessary Features: Focus on essential information. Too many elements can confuse visitors and slow down site performance.

HIPAA compliance requirements in WordPress themes isn’t about the theme being “certified” for HIPAA (because themes don’t directly handle PHI), but rather about choosing themes that prioritize clean code, fast performance, accessibility, and compatibility with HIPAA-compliant plugins and hosting.

Here are some HIPAA-friendly WordPress themes well-suited for healthcare websites:

• SeaTheme Healthcare Template: Clean code, speed-optimized, integrates easily with security and accessibility tools.

• Astra (Healthcare Starter Templates): Lightweight, fast, and compatible with major page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder.

• OceanWP (Medical Templates): Highly customizable and fast. Works well with form and security plugins.

• Divi by Elegant Themes: All-in-one theme + visual builder; HIPAA-friendly if paired with secure hosting and plugins.

• Medicare (Premium): Designed specifically for medical websites with niche-specific demos.

Also read: Best Dental Website Templates

Step 4: Use HIPAA-Compliant WordPress Plugins

To build a HIPAA-compliant WordPress website, using the right plugins is just as important as securing your hosting environment. While WordPress offers a vast plugin ecosystem, not all plugins are safe for handling sensitive patient data. Therefore, you must choose plugins that follow HIPAA security rules and strict security protocols and meet HIPAA requirements.

• Data Encryption: Choose plugins that offer encryption both during transmission and while stored. This ensures that PHI remains secure whether it’s being submitted through a form or saved in your database.

• Access Integrity Controls: Plugins should support role-based permissions for authorized personnel to access sensitive health information. It should allow you to control who can access specific types of data. This is important for the healthcare industry, as it ensures data integrity and reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

• Audit Control Trails: Make sure plugins include audit logging features. These logs help track user activity, including data transmission and retrieval. They provides risk analysis, monitor data access, and support HIPAA audit requirements.

• Form Security: Avoid storing sensitive information directly in WordPress unless it’s properly encrypted and access-restricted. Instead, use secure third-party tools when possible.

Recommended HIPAA-Friendly Plugins

• Gravity Forms with HIPAA-compliant add-ons
• WPForms Enterprise-level version only
• JotForm HIPAA embedded via secure shortcode

Note: Even if your plugin is HIPAA-compliant, it must be hosted on a HIPAA-compliant server to ensure end-to-end data protection.

Related: Best Healthcare Plugins for WordPress

Step 5: Implement Access Controls

Securing a HIPAA compliant WordPress site goes beyond encryption and secure web hosting services. Just like physical security controls, it also requires strict access control for meeting HIPAA compliance requirements. 

You need to manage who can view or edit sensitive data, patient portal, and how much control each user has to keep the data safe. By implementing layered access strategies, you reduce the risk of unauthorized access and ensure PHI stays protected.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Start by requiring MFA for all users, especially those with administrative access. This adds an extra verification step, making it harder for unauthorized users to gain entry.

• Least Privilege Principle: Apply the principle of least privilege by giving users only the access they need to perform their tasks, nothing more.

• Create User Roles: Customize WordPress roles to match your team’s responsibilities. Assign distinct permissions to admins, editors, contributors, and other roles.

• Auto-Logout Sessions: Use auto-logout features to log out users after inactivity, reducing the risk of data exposure from unattended sessions.

Plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded and User Role Editor help enforce these essential controls.

Step 6: Create HIPAA-Compliant Forms

If your WordPress site collects patient information, your forms must be HIPAA-compliant. Unlike standard contact forms, healthcare forms require strict security controls to protect sensitive data. From how data is collected to where it’s stored, every step must meet HIPAA standards.

• Use Encryption:  First, ensure that all form data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. This prevents interception and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

• Limit Data Collection: Only ask for the minimum information required for your purpose. Reducing data volume lowers compliance risks and protects patient privacy.

• Use Secure Storage: Whenever possible, avoid storing PHI directly in your WordPress database. Instead, use secure third-party platforms that are purpose-built for HIPAA compliance.

• Get a Signed BAA: Always request a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) from any third-party form provider you use. This legal document ensures their accountability under HIPAA.

Best HIPAA-Compliant Form Tools

• JotForm HIPAA
• LuxSci SecureForm
• FormDr

For added protection, embed forms via secure iframes, rather than storing submissions within WordPress itself.

Step 7: Sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

When building a HIPAA-compliant WordPress website, it is a legal requirement to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with every third-party vendor that handles Protected Health Information (PHI).

A BAA outlines how the vendor will safeguard PHI and confirms their responsibility under HIPAA regulations.

• Hosting Providers: If your hosting provider stores or processes PHI, they must sign a BAA. Without it, your entire website setup risks non-compliance.

• Form Builders: Form tools that collect patient data, such as JotForm or LuxSci, must provide a BAA to confirm they meet HIPAA standards.

• Email Service Providers: Avoid standard tools like Mailchimp. Instead, use HIPAA-compliant services like Paubox or LuxSci and ensure a signed BAA is in place.

• Backup Services: Any service that backs up PHI must also sign a BAA, as they have access to sensitive patient data.

Always verify that each vendor understands HIPAA obligations and is committed to compliance in writing.

Check out: SOC 2 Compliance for Your WordPress Website

Step 8: Launch Your HIPAA-Compliant WordPress Site

With everything in place, it’s time to launch. However, even your launch process should align with HIPAA best practices to maintain full compliance.

• Perform a Final Compliance Checklist: Before going live, thoroughly review plugins, forms, hosting settings, and access controls to ensure compliance with HIPAA standards.

• Conduct Security Testing: Run tests for vulnerabilities, SSL certificates, and form encryption. Fix any issues before public access.

• Monitor and Log Site Activity: Implement monitoring tools and audit logs to track who accesses what and when. This helps with breach detection and documentation.

• Inform and Train Your Team: Make sure your staff knows how to handle PHI on the site and is familiar with privacy and access policies.

Once launched, continue to monitor, update, and test your site regularly.

Essential Guide to: Healthcare WordPress Website HIPAA Development

Bonus: Regular Website Maintenance and Security

HIPAA compliance doesn’t end after you launch your website; it requires continuous monitoring and updates. Regular website maintenance ensures that your WordPress site remains secure, functional, and aligned with evolving HIPAA standards.

• Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated: Outdated software creates vulnerabilities. Regularly update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins to patch security risks.

• Run Regular Vulnerability Scans: Identify potential threats before they become problems by performing routine scans using security tools.

• Perform Encrypted Backups: Schedule regular encrypted backups to secure your data and enable fast recovery in case of breaches or technical failures.

• Monitor Server Logs for Suspicious Activity: Check your server logs frequently to promptly detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts.

• Use Malware Detection Tools: Tools like Wordfence or BlogVault help detect and remove malware, ensuring your site stays clean and secure.

• Conduct Periodic HIPAA Compliance Audits: Finally, run routine audits to ensure your website continues to meet HIPAA requirements and industry best practices.

Further reading: Best Website Design Practices for Healthcare Websites

Bonus: Create a Disaster Recovery Plan

Disasters, whether cyberattacks, server failures, or natural events, can disrupt your healthcare website at any time. Under HIPAA, you’re required to have a solid disaster recovery plan in place to restore operations quickly and securely.

Planning ahead reduces downtime, protects patient data, and ensures business continuity.

• Data Restoration Steps: Start by outlining step-by-step instructions to restore essential data and systems. This includes access to backups, databases, and any third-party services.

• Server Failover Options: Have a failover server or cloud instance ready to take over if the primary server crashes. This helps maintain availability and minimizes service disruption.

• Timeline for Data Recovery: Define a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO), so your team knows how quickly systems must be back online.

• Incident Response Communication Plan:  Include a clear communication strategy for notifying internal staff, vendors, and possibly patients or regulators during a breach or outage.

Test your disaster recovery plan regularly and train your staff to follow it with confidence.

Learn more: HIPAA Compliance for eCommerce

Conclusion: Stay Secure, Stay Compliant

Building a HIPAA-compliant WordPress website is absolutely possible, but it requires intentional planning and ongoing vigilance.

Every step matters, from choosing the right hosting provider and securing your data to implementing access controls and signing BAAs. Your patients trust you with their sensitive data, so make sure you’re worthy of that trust.

Keep in mind that compliance is not just about avoiding penalties. It’s about showing your commitment to data privacy and ethical healthcare practices. By following these steps, you’ll have a HIPAA-compliant website that’s both secure and professional. Plus, you’ll sleep better at night.

FAQs About HIPAA Compliant WordPress Website