By Matt Fisher – Maintaining and protecting privacy for patients and healthcare information is important and necessary at all times. The requirement for keeping privacy applies no matter the circumstances, which can mean in the middle of a pandemic. The most recent HIPAA settlement announced by the Office for Civil Rights provides that reminder.
Read More
By Matt Fisher – The drumbeat of settlements from the Office for Civil Rights around the individual right of access continues. The most recent settlement offers a different reminder than the previous settlements. This time, the settlement impacted a health insurance company.
By Art Gross – A recent investigation by the OCR alleges that several security guards from Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital impermissibly accessed the medical records of 419 individuals. This incident highlights the importance of maintaining strict protocols and vigilant oversight.
By Matt Fisher – Snooping into medical records is a long established privacy concern. It is one of the classic examples of how a data breach can occur because it trades on an individual’s natural curiosity that must be contained. Despite snooping being a widely known concern, it still occurs.
By Matt Fisher – Social media and healthcare can be a productive combination, but not when patient information is involved. The power and reach of social media are nothing new, nor is the concern about the ready ability to spread misinformation.
By Art Gross – The Office for Civil Rights 90-day transition period commenced on May 12, 2023. As a HIPAA compliance company, we understand the importance of staying up-to-date with regulatory changes. Let’s delve into the transition period and its significance, and provide guidance on how your organization can ensure seamless compliance in this evolving landscape.
By Matt Fisher – The Office for Civil Rights continues its focus on compliance with the right of access under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The latest settlement represents the 44th instance since OCR announced the first right of access settlement in 2019.
By Art Gross – The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing and protecting civil rights and privacy rights in the healthcare industry. With the increasing number of complaints and reviews regarding HIPAA and the HITECH Act, the OCR has recently undergone…
By Art Gross – The OCR within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for enforcing compliance with HIPAA. As part of its mandate, the OCR annually releases a report on data breaches in the healthcare industry. The most recent report, which covers the year 2021, was recently released.