OCR proposes big changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule

This week, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule that would “break down barriers that have stood in the way of commonsense care coordination and value-based arrangements for far too long,” according HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Can I share a coronavirus patient’s information to protect the public?

This month in light of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a bulletin reminding HIPAA covered entities and their business associates of the ways they may share patient information during an outbreak of infectious disease or other emergency situations.

HHS releases proposal to overhaul patient privacy rules for addiction treatment

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced proposed changes late last week to the federal regulations governing the confidentiality of patient records created by federally-assisted substance use disorder treatment programs, known as 42 CFR Part 2. Drafted in 1975, 42 CFR Part 2 was designed to protect patient records created by federally-assisted programs […]

HHS reduces maximum civil penalties for HIPAA violations

The HHS published a Notification of Enforcement Discretion Regarding HIPAA Civil Money Penalties that changes the interpretation of fines for violations defined under the HITECH Act, effectively reducing some of the annual limits.