Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a final rule in the Federal Register, amending the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) regulations and the HIPAA Privacy Rule to provide patients with greater access to their lab […]
Health Privacy
HIPAA, Mental Health and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Back in the News
Today, the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) publishes a proposed rule in the Federal Register by which it seeks to encourage reporting of persons with mental health bars to gun ownership/possession to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It proposes to do so by revising the HIPAA Privacy Rule to […]
CMS Releases Updated HIPAA Security Risk Analysis Tipsheet for EHR Meaningful Use Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), has recently issued an updated tipsheet on conducting a security risk assessment for health care providers participating in CMS’s Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs. To receive incentive payments through the program, providers must demonstrate meaningful use […]
New HHS OIG Report Raises Concerns about Oversight and Enforcement of HIPAA Security Rule
On Wednesday, December 4, 2013, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report raising concerns about the adequacy of the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR) oversight and enforcement of HIPAA’s Security Rule. The Security Rule establishes the administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that covered entities and their business associates are required to implement […]
FTC Announces 2014 Spring Seminars Disclosing Future Regulatory Focus
Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission announced three main topics that will be the focus of its Spring 2014 privacy seminars. The areas to be examined are: (1) Mobile Device Tracking; (2) Alternative Scoring Products; and (3) Consumer Generated and Controlled Health Data. The Mobile Device Tracking seminar, which is open to the public, will take […]