How do you know if a website is HIPAA compliant?

You cannot tell by design alone. A HIPAA compliant website uses SSL encryption, secure forms that do not send raw data by email and a clear privacy policy. Behind the scenes, the business must have a signed Business Associate Agreement with its hosting provider. If you are unsure, reviewing the compliance checklist in your website dashboard can help confirm your status.

How to make a website HIPAA compliant (+ examples)

Q: How much does it cost to get HIPAA compliant?

The cost depends on how you build your site. Custom development can cost thousands upfront plus ongoing maintenance. Using a website builder like Wix with native HIPAA compliance is more affordable for small businesses. You typically need a business-tier plan, such as Business or Elite, which includes security features in the monthly subscription.

Q: What is the best HIPAA compliant website builder?

The best website builder offers native HIPAA compliance, meaning security is built into the platform rather than added through third-party tools. Wix is a strong option because it allows users to sign a Business Associate Agreement, activate PHI protection and automatically flag non-compliant apps. It also meets enterprise security standards like SOC 2 and ISO27799.

Chaya Arbiv
16 hours ago
11 min read

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →

How to make a website HIPAA compliant starts with securing any patient data your site collects or processes. If your website uses intake forms, appointment scheduling or patient portals, you must protect that information with encryption, access controls and a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with your website provider.

For healthcare professionals, HIPAA compliance isn’t optional. It’s how you protect patient privacy and maintain trust. Whether you’re a therapist, a dentist or run a wellness clinic, this guide shows you how to how to start a website that keeps patient data secure, so you can focus on caring for people.

Get started with Wix's AI website builder.

Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can design, customize and launch a professional website in minutes. Everything about Wix is built to simplify the process so you can focus on what really matters: bringing your ideas to life. Ready to make it happen? Start creating the website you’ve always envisioned today.

Build your website

TL;DR: how to make a website HIPAA compliant

If you’re short on time, here's the gist. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a U.S. law designed to protect sensitive patient health information (PHI).

If your website collects, stores or transmits this data (think intake forms, appointment scheduling or patient portals) it needs to meet strict security standards. This proves to your clients that you take their privacy seriously.

To get there, you need a secure hosting environment, encrypted forms and a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with your website provider. It sounds technical, but platforms like Wix have launched native solutions to handle the heavy lifting for you.

Top 5 features of a HIPAA compliant website

Feature	Why you need it
Data encryption	Scrambles data so it’s unreadable to hackers during transmission and storage.
Access controls	Ensures only authorized personnel can log in and view sensitive patient information.
Business Associate Agreement (BAA)	A legal contract where your tech vendors agree to protect PHI.
Audit trails	Keeps a record of who accessed what data and when, which is crucial for compliance checks.
Secure backups	Ensures patient data isn't lost during a system crash or cyber incident.

Learn more:

How to make a website HIPAA compliant in 9 steps

Ready to secure your site? We’ve broken the process down into manageable chunks. You don't need to be a cybersecurity expert to get this right. You just need to follow the right roadmap.

Plan your website with security in mind
Choose a HIPAA-compliant website builder
Select a domain name and web host
Sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
Customize a health website template
Secure your forms and data collection
Implement secure backups
Set up strict access controls
Maintain compliance with audits

01. Plan your website with security in mind

Before you start building, it's a good idea to map out your website features and structure, keeping HIPAA compliance at the forefront of your decisions. A solid plan will act as your blueprint, making sure that every part of your website is secure from the get-go.

Here's what you should think about when it comes to how to plan a website:

What kind of website do you need? Think about all the different web pages and features you want. Will your site be purely informational or will you need more complex functions like a patient portal, an appointment scheduling system or online intake forms? Each of these will handle different types of data and have its own security needs.
Where will Protected Health Information (PHI) be collected? Pinpoint every place on your site where patients might enter personal information. This could be a contact form, a registration page or a billing section. Identifying these areas early helps you figure out which features need strong encryption and extra security measures.
Create a website launch checklist. Your list should include all the essential security steps you'll take before going live. This includes implementing security measures like learning how to get an SSL certificate, signing a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with your web host and any third-party service providers, setting up access controls for your team and establishing a regular backup schedule.

02. Choose a HIPAA-compliant website builder

Not all website builders are created equal when it comes to security. You need a provider that understands the healthcare industry's unique needs and offers native compliance features. This saves you from having to patch together third-party plugins which can often be the weak link in your security chain.

Wix offers native HIPAA compliance features directly within the platform. This means you can manage patient data and build client trust without needing complex workarounds. By building on existing security frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO27799, Wix simplifies the technical side of compliance so you can focus on your practice.

Choosing the right platform during website development is especially important in healthcare, since HIPAA compliance depends on secure website infrastructure, not just how your site looks.

expert wix quote on choosing a website builder

03. Select a domain name and web host

A domain name is your site's web address, like www.yourpracticename.com. Having a professional domain name builds credibility and makes it easier for patients to find you. Most website builders including Wix include a custom domain for free with their premium plans.

When choosing a domain name, it's a good idea to:

Use your practice's name. This builds brand recognition.
Keep it short. A shorter name is easier for patients to remember and type.
Pick a relevant extension (TLD). While .com is always a solid choice, you can also consider industry-specific options like .fit, .center or .life.

Pro tip: To choose a domain name, try out a domain name generator or domain name search for inspiration.

If you've already chosen a HIPAA-compliant website builder like Wix, your web hosting is included. This means you don't need to find a separate hosting provider and all your site's data is managed securely in one place.

04. Sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

This is the step many business owners overlook. A BAA is a legal contract between you (the covered entity) and your tech provider (the business associate). It legally binds your provider to the same HIPAA security standards that you follow.

Without a signed BAA you're not HIPAA compliant, no matter how secure your technology is. Wix makes this easy by allowing users to sign a BAA directly through the dashboard. This document clarifies roles and responsibilities, detailing how Wix protects your data and what happens in the unlikely event of a security breach.

05. Design your website

Now that you’ve got a website builder and a plan, it's time to plan your website design. Since no two medical practices are the same, start by picking a professional medical template that you like. Then, you can customize it to match your practice's identity and patient needs.

Wix offers 2000+ website templates with great layouts and built-in tools. You can make it your own by personalizing the colors, fonts and images to create a professional and trustworthy feel. You'll also want to add any certifications, credentials and affiliations to build trust with visitors looking for reliable health information.

Check out Wix's health and wellness website templates.

Expert quote from Yarin Singolda, PMM at Wix:

“Wix makes it easy to design with both style and usability in mind. Every element is designed to help your visitors move through your site smoothly and enjoy the experience.”

Learn more: What is web design?

06. Secure your forms and data collection

The most common way websites interact with PHI is through forms, such as contact pages, new patient intakes or insurance verification. Standard web forms often send data via unencrypted email, which is a major compliance risk.

Any web content that includes forms, scheduling tools or patient portals must be secured. Every piece of data entered into your site should be encrypted from the moment a patient submits it until it reaches a secure database.

Look for a solution that offers end-to-end encryption. If you’re using Wix, its native solution supports secure data handling, ensuring sensitive information never sits exposed in a standard email inbox.

Different types of websites handle patient data in different ways. A simple informational site may not process PHI at all, while appointment booking, intake forms and patient portals require much stricter security controls.

07. Implement secure backups

Data loss isn't just a headache when it comes to patient records, it’s a compliance risk. Even with strong encryption and access controls, patient data can still be lost due to system crashes, cyberattacks or accidental deletions.

Make it a habit to regularly back up your encrypted patient data. This ensures your PHI is safe and recoverable if something goes wrong.

Test your backups periodically to confirm that data can be restored quickly and securely.

Automating this process through your website builder or hosting platform reduces risk and helps maintain HIPAA compliance without adding extra work to your routine.

By doing this, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong, you can get your business back up and running without missing a beat.

08. Set up strict access controls

Just because your website is secure doesn't mean everyone on your team should have the keys to the castle. HIPAA requires you to limit access to PHI to only those who strictly need it to do their jobs.

Implement unique login credentials for every staff member and never share passwords. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. On your website backend, assign roles with the lowest level of access necessary. For example, your marketing freelancer needs to update blog posts but they definitely shouldn't have access to patient booking records.

09. Maintain compliance with audits

Ongoing HIPAA compliance is part of responsible website management. Regularly reviewing access logs, apps and data handling settings helps ensure your site stays compliant as your practice grows. Monitor who is accessing patient data and keep logs of that activity.

Wix’s new tools flag non-compliant apps and communication channels at the site level. This creates a helpful safety net, ensuring you're aware of any potential risks on your site. By regularly reviewing your site's "Compliance and Privacy" settings, you can stay ahead of potential issues before they become violations.

How to make a HIPAA-compliant website on Wix

Before you begin: Wix sites built on the Wix Editor or Wix Studio Editor can be HIPAA compliant, but you can't just flip a switch on any plan. You must have a supported Premium or Studio site plan specifically Business, Plus, Elite, Business Elite or Enterprise plans.

While Wix gives you the secure environment and tools, remember that you're responsible for how you configure your site. Some apps or features might not be compatible with HIPAA standards.

Activate PHI protection
Sign a Business Associate Agreement
Complete data requests

01. Activate PHI protection

The Compliance, Privacy & Cookies page page in your dashboard is your command center. This is where you manage privacy tools and data requests.

To activate PHI protection:

Log in to your Wix account on a desktop.
Go to HIPAA Compliance in the Compliance, Privacy & Cookies page of your site's dashboard.
Review the list of HIPAA-compliant apps provided by Wix.
Click Activate PHI Protection.

Note: If you don't have the right site plan, you'll be prompted to upgrade before you can proceed.

02. Sign a Business Associate Agreement

Once you’ve activated PHI protection, you aren't done yet. You need to sign the BAA. This contract sets the conditions for how Wix handles your clients' PHI.

The BAA covers details like:

What information is protected.
The security measures Wix takes to safeguard data.
Rules on how Wix uses or shares information.
Your responsibilities (like not adding health data to non-HIPAA services).
Protocols for security incidents.

We recommend that you don't collect or store any PHI on your site until this is signed. If you processed health data before this step, be aware that it may not have been handled to HIPAA standards.

To sign a BAA:

Log in to your Wix account on desktop.
Navigate to HIPAA Compliance in the Compliance, Privacy & Cookies page.
Click Sign Now next to Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
Review the agreement carefully.
Check the box confirming you're authorized to sign.
Enter your name, date and signature, then click Submit.

You can view your signed BAA anytime in the HIPAA compliance tab if you need to refer back to it.

03. Complete data requests

Under HIPAA, patients have rights regarding their data. They may ask for a copy of their PHI or request that you delete it. Wix makes handling these requests straightforward.

To complete a data request:

Log in to your Wix account on desktop.
Go to Compliance, Privacy & Cookies in the dashboard.
Click the Visitor data tab.
Select Data request.
Click + New Request and choose either Export data or Delete data depending on what your client needs.

Medical and health website examples built on Wix

The easiest way to get inspiration for your medical website is to explore some of the best healthcare sites built on Wix. Here are a few excellent examples to check out, learn from and use as a guide:

01. The Doctors Who Care

The Doctors Who Care website offers a concierge, membership-based healthcare service with direct access to top physicians. Their website immediately conveys premium, modern care with a sleek, professional design. High-quality images and a clean layout build trust, while the site clearly explains membership benefits and showcases distinguished physicians with individual profiles. This approach positions the service as exclusive and helps potential patients feel confident in their choice.