By Matt Fisher – As the telehealth flood gates are being opened, privacy and security considerations still remain. HIPAA will continue to lurk in the background even with the OCR pre-announcing the exercise of discretion to not enforce telehealth related violations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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By Matt Fisher – The declaration of COVID19 as a pandemic and the United States declaring a national emergency to help contain and enhance treatment access have resulted in a number of changes to ease potential regulatory burdens or barriers in healthcare.
The OCR will exercise its enforcement discretion and will waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients through everyday communications technologies during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.
By Matt Fisher – The first HIPAA settlement of 2020 brings home a couple of key considerations for compliance. The first consideration is to be comfortable with one’s own level of adherence to HIPAA before filing a report (even a necessary one) that will inevitably result in an investigation.
By Art Gross – In Carroll County, Georgia, there was a vehicle accident of an unusual kind recently. It resulted in the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights slapping a $65,000 fine on West Georgia Ambulance when they were found to have multiple violations of HIPAA rules.
By Art Gross – We are all affected by bad cyber health. Pay attention, the health of your business depends on it. Wherever you fall in the food chain of the healthcare industry, cybersecurity needs to be at the forefront of your mind.
By Art Gross – Crazy Eight…If only we were talking about a card game. Unfortunately, for Sentara Hospital, we aren’t. Instead, we are referring to them receiving the unwanted title of being the eighth recipient of a HIPAA financial penalty in 2019.
By Art Gross – HIPAA compliance doesn’t care if you’re a small business or a non-profit. This isn’t said in a disrespectful manner to the laws that govern the policies, but to make you aware that your business status, or identifying structure won’t allow you to be overlooked.
By Art Gross – Enforcement is in action. That’s what Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg recently learned when they agreed to pay $85,000 in penalties to the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights for a potential violation of the HIPAA right to access provision.