HIPAA News

HIPAA News

No need to scour the internet to find the information you need to stay current with HIPAA news, we have you covered with our HIPAA news page. Keep up to date on HIPAA news by checking in with us. We will provide you with information on changes to HIPAA law, healthcare breaches, HIPAA violations, and OCR fines. Bookmark the HIPAA news page so you never fall behind on changes to HIPAA.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expects organizations working with protected health information (PHI) to be aware of their obligation to secure the sensitive data. It is no longer acceptable to feign ignorance of the law. This is why it is necessary to be aware of any change that may require you to adjust your HIPAA compliance program.Organizations that fall victim to healthcare breaches, and lack an effective HIPAA compliance program, are subject to HIPAA audits and subsequent fines.

HIPAA fines can be extremely costly and detrimental to your organization’s reputation. Compliancy Group is dedicated to helping organizations avoid healthcare breaches and fines by providing educational resources to aid your compliance.

Recent HIPAA News!

Another Delay Sought for Cures Act Information Blocking Rule

With an October 6, 2022 deadline looming, a group of hospitals and medical associations is making a last-minute plea for HHS to delay the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking Rule for one more year. Passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016, the rule is intended to encourage innovation in medical research and expand patients' [...]

2022-10-03T11:32:45-04:00September 30th, 2022|
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August 2022 Healthcare Breach Report

Each month, we review healthcare breaches to determine the leading cause and how the incidents could have been prevented. We do so by examining the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) online breach portal. The OCR publicly posts healthcare breaches that affected 500 or more individuals to ensure that all affected patients know their information could have been potentially compromised. Business associates had [...]

2022-09-16T14:07:29-04:00September 16th, 2022|
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Prior HIPAA Compliant Telehealth Regulations Set to Return

As the pandemic crisis fades, the Department of Health and Human Services is eliminating many of the flexibilities in HIPAA compliant telehealth regulations it granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency. How We Got Here – HIPAA Compliant Telehealth Regulations The pandemic-fueled lockdowns put a severe strain on the nation’s health system, as those most at risk of infection struggled to receive [...]

2022-09-16T14:07:42-04:00September 12th, 2022|
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OCR Settles New England Dermatology HIPAA Violations for $300,640

Springfield, Massachusetts, is home to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame  - a mere 90-minute ride to Boston. Springfield is also, less famously, the headquarters of New England Dermatology, P.C., d/b/a New England Dermatology and Laser Center (“NEDLC”). This HIPAA covered entity provides treatment for skin, hair, and nail diseases, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rashes. In late August of 2022, [...]

2022-08-24T10:15:41-04:00August 24th, 2022|
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Report: Facebook Tracker Collecting Hospital Patient PHI

Use of Tracker by Hospitals Likely Violates HIPAA An investigation by The Markup and Stat has uncovered a tracking tool used by 33 of the country’s top 100 hospitals that collects patients’ protected health information (PHI) and sends it to Facebook—including details about medical conditions, prescriptions, and physician appointments. Experts contacted in the article, including a former head [...]

2022-06-17T14:47:46-04:00June 17th, 2022|
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Survey: Compliance Officers Stressed, Anxious, Burned Out

A recent survey of Compliance Officers reveals more than half feel their mental health has been negatively affected by their jobs. Sponsored by Corporate Compliance Insights, the survey is one of the first in recent years to examine workplace stress and its role on employees. At least 240 compliance officers completed the survey during August and September 2021. It highlights that Compliance [...]

2022-06-15T16:04:18-04:00June 15th, 2022|
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What is HIPAA Chile?

In Chile, Law 20,584 provides data privacy rights for patients. Law 20,584, the equivalent to HIPAA, was passed in 2012. The law requires that all information contained in patient files or documentation of medical treatments be treated as sensitive data.  The law also requires that healthcare professionals maintain the confidentiality of patient data. “HIPAA Chile” changes are on the horizon. In September, [...]

2022-05-27T16:58:57-04:00May 25th, 2022|
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New HIPAA Privacy Technology Legislation Introduced to Address “Outdated” HIPAA

Recently, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation known as the Health Data Use and Privacy Commission Act. The legislation's main aim is to update what these Senators view as an “outdated” HIPAA law. When HIPAA was signed into law in 1996, most covered entities were in the telegraph age when it came to using electronic technology to use and disclose medical [...]

2022-05-06T17:03:35-04:00February 22nd, 2022|
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