HIPAA and HITECH Compliance

A health informatics company can ensure HIPAA compliance by implementing rigorous data protection protocols, conducting regular training sessions for employees on safeguarding patient information, continuously monitoring and updating their systems to prevent breaches, and collaborating with legal experts to ensure that all practices align with the latest HIPAA regulations, making health informatics company HIPAA compliance … Read more

Digital health interventions HIPAA compliance is important because it ensures that digital platforms, applications, and tools involved in delivering healthcare services adhere to the stringent standards set by HIPAA to safeguard patient data and maintain confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health information. As technology continues infiltrating the medical world, the need to protect patient data … Read more

A personal care agency can ensure HIPAA compliance by implementing rigorous data privacy and security measures, including training staff on the importance of protecting patient information, using encrypted communication and storage systems, conducting regular audits to identify and rectify potential vulnerabilities, and establishing clear policies and procedures that adhere to HIPAA guidelines, thereby safeguarding the … Read more

HIPAA has the advantage of safeguarding individuals’ medical information, ensuring their privacy, and promoting standardized electronic transactions in the healthcare industry, while its drawbacks include administrative burdens, potential barriers to efficient healthcare communication, and the risk of hindering certain forms of medical research due to stringent data protection measures. HIPAA stands as a crucial guardian … Read more

HIPAA security requirements profoundly influence healthcare IT policies by mandating the safeguarding of protected health information through the implementation of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, which leads to the adoption of measures such as regular risk assessments, encryption protocols, access controls, employee training programs, incident response strategies, and periodic audits to ensure ongoing compliance and … Read more

The consequences of non-compliance with HIPAA security requirements can include substantial financial penalties, potential criminal charges with imprisonment, reputational damage to the organization, loss of patient trust, potential lawsuits, increased audit scrutiny, and the burden of implementing corrective action plans to rectify the identified security shortcomings. The consequences of non-compliance with HIPAA Security Requirements are … Read more

Implementing HIPAA security requirements in your IT infrastructure necessitates conducting a comprehensive risk analysis to identify vulnerabilities, adopting robust access controls, ensuring encrypted data storage and transmission, training staff on compliance measures, regularly auditing and updating policies and procedures, integrating breach notification processes, and establishing disaster recovery plans to safeguard protected health information against unauthorized … Read more

HIPAA security requirements profoundly impact telehealth by mandating safeguarding patient health information through encrypted communications, secure data storage, and strict access controls, ensuring the confidentiality of medical records during remote consultations and the integrity of health data transmissions between providers and patients. The implications of HIPAA security requirements on telehealth cannot be understated. These provisions … Read more

Encryption plays a major role in the HIPAA Security Requirements as it safeguards Protected Health Information (PHI) during storage and transmission, thus mitigating risks of unauthorized access or breaches and enabling healthcare entities to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI, which are basic aspects of the Encryption and HIPAA Security Requirements. It serves as … Read more

To train your staff on HIPAA security requirements, initiate a program that includes onboarding training for new hires, regular refreshers, providing clear patient data handling protocols, education on security threats like phishing, and fostering an open reporting environment. These sessions should illuminate the intricacies of physical, technical, and administrative safeguards. Equally important is cultivating an … Read more

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Norton Healthcare Over BlackCat Cyberattack Norton Healthcare based in Kentucky operates over 140 clinics and hospitals all across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. It is confronted with a class action lawsuit in association with a cyberattack and data breach in May 2023. Norton Healthcare has just exposed limited data regarding the … Read more

HIPAA security requirements protect patient data by mandating a combination of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, including risk assessments, access controls, encryption, regular audits, and personnel training, to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI) while preventing unauthorized access, disclosure, or breaches. The HIPAA Security Rule, specifically, is centered on preserving … Read more

Ensuring that your healthcare practice meets HIPAA security requirements is important, not just from a compliance perspective but also to uphold the trust and confidence of your patients. These requirements involve a combination of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to secure Protected Health Information (PHI). Conducting a comprehensive risk analysis is the first step in … Read more

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires healthcare providers to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. Which include conducting risk assessments, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality, controlling access to protected health information (PHI), training employees, establishing contingency plans, and implementing encryption. Other security measures for electronic PHI (ePHI), regularly reviewing information system activities, … Read more

Approved Final Rule for Information Blocking Penalties of Up to $1 Million for Health IT Companies HHS-OIG already approved the civil monetary penalties for health IT companies that are found engaging in information blocking. Penalties of as much as $1 million may be issued for every violation. In 2016, sharing electronic health data became normal … Read more

Under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, covered entities must provide notification to affected individuals without unreasonable delay and in no case later than 60 days following the discovery of a breach of unsecured PHI. According to HIPAA, covered entities (such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses) and their business associates must notify individuals … Read more

The HIPAA law, enacted by the United States Congress to modernize the flow of healthcare information, ensure the security and privacy of patient data, and set guidelines for the handling of electronic protected health information, went into effect on April 14, 2003. HIPAA has its roots in the need for reform in the healthcare sector, … Read more

When a breach in PHI security has been discovered, you should initially report it internally within your organization, typically to your supervisor or the designated privacy officer, and if the breach occurred at a business associate, it should also be reported to the covered entity, then, depending on the scale of the breach, it needs … Read more

SEC Postpones Final Rule on Cyber Incident Disclosures The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was scheduled to release a final rule, mandating publicly traded companies to disclose important cyber breaches in their regulatory filings within four days of discovering a breach. The decision has been postponed until October 2023, prolonging the process. In March 2022, … Read more

HIPAA awareness should be promoted on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance and foster a culture of privacy and security within organizations that handle Protected Health Information (PHI). HIPAA awareness should be promoted during employee onboarding, through regular training and education sessions, when updating policies and procedures, during annual refreshers, in incident response situations, when … Read more

HIPAA was created to address several critical objectives in the healthcare sector, including enhancing health insurance portability, safeguarding the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI), improving healthcare administration efficiency, and combating fraud and abuse. Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996, HIPAA encompasses a wide range of provisions and requirements aimed at protecting … Read more

The enforcement of the HIPAA is carried out by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with the OCR responsible for investigating HIPAA complaints, conducting compliance reviews, performing education and outreach to foster compliance, and imposing civil monetary penalties or corrective action plans for violations. HIPAA … Read more

Blackbaud Had No Common Law Duty to Protect the Confidentiality of Trinity Health’s Records An Indiana district court judge has decided in support of the plaintiff in a lawsuit that alleged negligence for not preventing a breach of protected health information (PHI), stating that there is no common law duty in Indiana to protect the … Read more

The acronym HITECH stands for the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, a comprehensive legislation passed in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which aimed to promote the widespread adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (IT) systems, improve the quality of healthcare delivery, enhance patient … Read more

In non-criminal cases, the enforcement of HIPAA is primarily handled by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OCR plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and safeguarding individuals’ privacy rights in the healthcare industry. Its mission is to protect and enhance … Read more

HIPAA continues to apply after a person’s death, ensuring the ongoing protection of sensitive health information, preserving the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI) beyond an individual’s lifetime, and establishing guidelines that govern the proper handling, disclosure, and retention of such information, thereby emphasizing the significance of maintaining confidentiality and integrity even in the post-mortem phase of an individual’s healthcare journey.

The 2022 change to the Pennsylvania Breach of Personal Information Notification Act (BPINA) is currently in force. The revision extended the definition of personal data adding medical data, medical insurance details, and usernames along with a security question/answer or a password that enables access to an account. The change to BPINA was approved on November … Read more

One Brooklyn Health Faces Lawsuit Over 235K-Record Data Breach One Brooklyn Health based in New York City manages three acute care hospitals, namely Interfaith Medical Center, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against One Brooklyn Health associated with a data breach that was uncovered in November … Read more

HIPAA training is important because it ensures compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), protects patient privacy and confidentiality, promotes data security and breach prevention, and fosters a culture of legal and ethical compliance in healthcare organizations. HIPAA training is a fundamental requirement for healthcare professionals and organizations to ensure HIPAA compliance. … Read more

Ransomware and phishing are still the biggest concerns in terms of cybersecurity for healthcare providers based on Health-ISAC’s Current and Emerging Healthcare Cyber Threat Landscape report for February 2023. The joint report by Booz Allen Hamilton Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) and Health-ISAC reveals the major threats to the healthcare industry. It is based on a … Read more

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is facing a lawsuit om association with its latest BlackCat ransomware attack. The attack resulted in the encryption of files after exfiltrating data as is common in ransomware attacks; nevertheless, the attack was distinct because of the aggressive step of the ransomware group to exert more pressure on LVHN to … Read more

DoppelPaymer Ransomware Core Members Arrested in Europol-Driven Operation Two persons alleged of being key DoppelPaymer ransomware group members were detained — one by the police in Germany and another by the Ukrainian Police officers and Ukraine German Regional Police. It is This organized law enforcement operation was led by Europol. The Federal Bureau of Investigation … Read more

HIPAA is important for patients because it protects their sensitive health information, protects their privacy rights, fosters trust in healthcare providers, and gives them more control over their personal data, ultimately improving the quality of care and promoting patient-centricity in the healthcare system. HIPAA holds immense importance for patients in the healthcare ecosystem. HIPAA is … Read more

HIPAA benefits patients by safeguarding their privacy and security, empowering them with control over their health information, fostering trust in healthcare providers, promoting patient-centered care, and preserving the ethical principles of confidentiality and autonomy within the healthcare system. HIPAA plays a important role in protecting patient rights, enhancing the quality of care, and preserving the … Read more

The benefits of HIPAA training include improved understanding and compliance with privacy and security regulations, reduced risk of data breaches and costly penalties, enhanced protection of sensitive patient information, increased trust from patients and stakeholders, and the establishment of a strong culture of privacy and security within healthcare organizations. HIPAA training provides healthcare professionals and … Read more

Ransomware groups are profiting less from their attacks as fewer victims give ransom payments to get the decryption keys and keep the stolen data from being exposed, according to two newly revealed reports from the ransomware remediation company, Coveware, and blockchain analysis organization, Chainalysis. Coveware revealed that in Quarter 1 of 2019, 85% of ransomware … Read more

Based on a survey performed by Dataiku in 2020, the main organizational challenge that delays the use of AI in healthcare settings is ethics. Even though particular concerns vary by company, the concerns could typically be classified as informed permission to use information, safety and visibility, algorithmic fairness, and data privacy. These issues aren’t distinct … Read more

HIPAA is important for billing and coding because it establishes strict regulations and safeguards to protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information, ensuring that medical billing and coding professionals keep sensitive data confidential and secure throughout the healthcare reimbursement process. With its emphasis on patient privacy, HIPAA is required in the context of … Read more

The HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) made an announcement of its first HIPAA enforcement action for 2023. The OCR is reminding HIPAA-covered entities of their responsibility to provide people and their personal representatives with prompt access to their health documents. Life Hope Labs, LLC, has agreed to pay the $16,500 penalty to resolve the … Read more

The information risk management, standards, and certification agency, HITRUST, made an announcement that it is going to release a new version of its well-known cybersecurity framework this January. HITRUST CSF Version 11 includes a number of enhancements to make sure the framework remains applicable, with enhanced mitigations against changing and arising cybersecurity threats, at the … Read more

HIPAA is a federal law that safeguards patients’ protected health information, promotes efficient healthcare transactions, ensures data security and privacy, fosters patient trust, and upholds ethical standards in the healthcare industry. HIPAA is a complete set of laws and standards to safeguard individuals’ sensitive health information’s privacy, security, and confidentiality. HIPAA’s significance stems from its … Read more

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a new proposed rule that will call for the use of criteria for healthcare transactions and electronic signatures utilized together with those transactions to support healthcare cases and previous authorization dealings. The new guideline will impose the conditions of the Administrative Simplification Requirements … Read more

One of the major cybersecurity issues in healthcare is the safety of medical devices. Hospitals still use a lot of connected healthcare devices and in so doing they considerably expand the attack surface. A new survey identified a connection between the volume of connected healthcare devices in medical centers and the number of cyberattacks they … Read more

The dermatology practice, Forefront Dermatology, based in Wisconsin has decided to settle a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of patients who had their protected health information (PHI) compromised in a ransomware attack in late May 2021. Forefront Dermatology has associate practices in 21 states and Washington D.C. In May 2021, the Cuba ransomware group … Read more

The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has decided to resolve an investigation of EyeMed Vision Care (EyeMed) into possible violations of the DFS Cybersecurity Regulation for $4.5 million. EyeMed based in Ohio is a licensed medical insurance provider, which gathers and keeps sensitive consumer data as a business practice. The DFS investigated … Read more

When a HIPAA complaint is submitted, what happens next depends on who it is filed with, the nature of the complaint, and whether the complaint is valid. After registering with a healthcare company or becoming a group health plan member, a person should receive a Notice of Privacy Practices. This Notice details what the healthcare … Read more

Health-ISAC has publicized a white paper to help guide healthcare CISOs planning to employ zero trust security architectures. The standard security approach is to set up border defenses in order to keep unauthorized persons out. Although this security strategy has helped companies well in past times, it isn’t useful online where there’s no border to … Read more

Florida Orthopaedic Institute has offered to pay $4 million to settle claims from patients impacted by a data breach in 2020. In April 2020, Musculoskeletal Institute, doing business as Florida Orthopaedic Institute, found that an unauthorized third party had acquired access to a server keeping patients’ protected health information (PHI) and employed ransomware for file … Read more

Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote to two major mental health app vendors and required replies regarding their practices regarding information collection and disclosure. There were a number of allegations that the mental health applications offered by Talkspace and BetterHelp are acquiring, mining, and distributing private client data to … Read more

The latest version of the HHS Security Risk Assessment (SRA) Tool has been released by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The HIPAA Security Rule calls for HIPAA-controlled entities to carry out a detailed, organization-wide risk … Read more