Articles Tagged With: HIPAA
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Ethical Concerns Raised by Surprising New Data on the Effect of the Revised Common Rule
The revised Common Rule (the U.S. Basic Federal Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects) was implemented in 2019 to enhance protections for human research subjects. Min-Fu Tsan, MD, PhD, wanted to know how well the revised Rule has achieved its stated goals.
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HIPAA Resuming Audits; Know What to Expect
The Office of Civil Rights recently resumed audits for HIPAA compliance, meaning some covered entities will be visited for a thorough check that could have serious ramifications. Knowing what to expect can reduce the risk and stress.
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Manage Third-Party Vendor Relationships Carefully
Third-party vendors pose a significant risk to a healthcare organization’s HIPAA compliance program, but those risks can be mitigated by diligently following best practices.
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OCR Imposes $1.5 Million Civil Monetary Penalty
The Office of Civil Rights recently announced a $1.5 million civil money penalty (CMP) for HIPAA violations against Warby Parker, the online retailer of prescription and non-prescription eyewear. The case highlights the need for a prompt and effective response after a breach.
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HHS Proposal Attempts to Boost Tech Improvements for HIPAA
Health and Human Services recently issued proposed updates to the HIPAA Security Rule to address continuing cybersecurity threats in healthcare, urging covered entities to keep up with the bad guys by adopting the most up-to-date technology.
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HHS Drops Appeal on Website Tracking, but Some of Rule Still Applies
Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that it will not appeal its unfavorable court decision in American Hospital Association v. Becerra, in which the American Hospital Association and other groups sued HHS to bar enforcement of a new rule adopted in guidance by the Office for Civil Rights titled “Use of Online Tracking Technologies by HIPAA-Covered Entities and Business Associates.”
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Computer Disposal Not Simple When PHI Involved
Disposing of an old, unneeded computer usually is as easy as chucking it in the dumpster out back or giving it away to charity. But not when it might contain protected health information.
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Reproductive Healthcare Rule Compliance Will Be Challenging
The new HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Healthcare Privacy will require covered entities to review and update some policies and procedures. The rule was promulgated in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
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Ethical Concerns with Data Sharing Practices of Healthcare Organizations
It is not uncommon for hospitals to share patient data with technology companies, either to spur research and product development or to train artificial intelligence models designed to improve clinical decision making. Researchers interviewed and surveyed 24 informatics leaders about current data sharing practices at their institutions.
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Hospital Terminates Employees for Allowing Another To Do Their Jobs
A Boston hospital recently announced that it terminated two employees over a privacy breach after an investigation determined that they allowed a third person, not an employee of the hospital, to perform some of their job duties. That person might have accessed patient protected health information, the hospital said.